Last known wild ‘akikiki in Kauai honored with proclamation

LIHUE (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Kaua’i County Council honored the life of the last known wild ‘akikiki on the Garden Isle with a special proclamation on Wednesday.

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The honeycreeper, named Pakele, was last seen in the wild a year ago. Researchers first saw her nesting in the fall of 2020.

“This was a remarkable moment, as she was the first (and only) ‘akikiki ever observed breeding in the off-season,” the proclamation states. “This dedication to raising more young ‘akikiki lasted her whole life. Field biologists observed a total of thirteen nesting attempts [throughout] her life, more than any other ‘akikiki.”

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Pakele was the only ‘akikiki to ever successfully fledge three nests, with 6 hatchlings total, in a single year.

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