What the Extinction of One Bird Has to do With America's Dirtiest Secret

By Julius Marinov

Picture this- in the deep mountainous rainforests of Hawaii, thousands of feet from sea level, A small unobtrusive bird darts on the old decaying bogs.

For most people, a bird like this is pretty unremarkable but in reality, this is the last of its kind.  

The ‘Akikiki' only numbers 5 wild birds in the highest reaches of Kauai. Conservationists have prepared for the worst and have kept a population of 40 in two zoos. The species is expected to become extinct in the wild this year. This isn't the first time this scenario has happened- this tale of imperialistic vice goes a long way back. 

Most Americans envision Hawaii as the ultimate vacation spot littered with tropical resorts. However beyond this, there is still a rich history that remains to be hidden.

Despite its status today as the 50th State, the Hawaiian Archipelago was a sovereign nation. Long before the Age of Exploration, native Hawaiians arrived from Pacific islands and soon built a unique society in a span of 1000 years. A royal regime would independently form and rule, a distance away from the squabbles of the world. 

This would change as Americans would begin to settle and take land for a growing sugar cane industry. By the dawn of the 20th century, a coup would occur.

With sovereign rule gone, American assimilationist laws would strip Hawaiian rights and culture as the land was quickly viewed as an imperative strategic position during the Pacific theater by politicians. 

What does this history lesson of colonization have to do with birds? With the Americans, a whole range of invasive species, Mongoose, pigs, cats and worst of all mosquitoes were released in a brief span. These introductions have resulted in the extinction of over 100 unique species. Marking Hawaii with the grim title of Extinction Capital of the World. 

Every species' extinction also means the extinction of a cultural memory. Many manu are often in the forefront of stories. Feathers of nearly all Hawaiian birds were used commonly in headdress, dresses and capes of Hawaiians. For some time, one endangered species; the Maui Parrotbill, had lost its traditional name before being renamed to the Kiwikiu in 2010. 

This is one of many effects of the United States annexation of Hawaii. Unaffordable housing rates appealing for richer foreigners are causing rates of emigration and chronic homelessness to rise and a lack of funding for natural disasters protection are to name a few.

People are fighting to save what is left of the native Manu, however this is without long struggle and small victories are only followed with drawn out difficulties. The ‘Akikiki will mark the next chapter in the woeful roster of what once was in Hawaii.