Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 40, Number 6, 1 June 2023 — Pū'alalā [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Pū'alalā

J NA MANU HOA ^ OUR BIRD FRIENDS "

By Lisa Kapono Mason

'Alolō select tools to be oble to successfully probe covities in logs while foroging. 'Alolō ond New Coledonion crows (Corvus moneduloides) ore the only known corvids to use tools. - Photos: Ann īanimoto Johnson/ LOHE Lab

As vigilant overseers of Hawai'i forests, the onee abundant 'alalā, or Hawaiian crow (Corvus hawaiiensis), were important fruit and seed dispersers of plants like hōawa, 'ie'ie, and olapa and served as a natural alarm system of nearby disturbances. Long ago, bird collectors lamented the presence of 'alalā as their cries would send other forest birds into hiding with a barrage of shrieks and howls. Oli (chant) practitioners have embodied these sounds into several well-known 'alalā chanting styles, some notably used in love chants to arouse strong emotions in their listeners.

Today, 'alalā are extinct in the wild and are no longer heard in the forest. However, conservationists are working hard to soon release captive-bred birds and reestablish wild populations in Hawai'i. 'Alalā are more closely related to eommon ravens than crows and are highly intelligent. They have an extensive vocal repertoire and learn their songs socially ffom other individuals. ■ Lisa Kapono Mason was raised in Hilo and happily resides in Keaau on the island of Hawai'i. She is a community educator, conservation researcher, and native bird enthusiast with a passion to help strengthen relationships between our manu and lahui.

A newly formed breeding pair of 'alala ihal wos established during the 2019 release of captive 'ūlūlō at Pu'u Maka'ala Forest Reserve, Hawoi'i lsland.