Nēnē, the Hawaiian goose (state bird)

The nēnē is Hawaiʻi's state bird and is found nowhere else on Earth. It nearly vanished, down to about 30 wild birds around 1950, and has recovered to roughly 3,000 thanks to protection. Never feed nēnē, and drive slowly where signs warn of them.

• Only in Hawaiʻi; descended from geese that arrived long ago and adapted to land, with less webbing on their feet for walking on lava.
• Down to about 30 in the wild around 1950; about 3,000 statewide today. Protected under the Endangered Species Act since 1967 and later reclassified from endangered to threatened.
• Where to see them: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (about 250 there), Haleakalā, and Kauaʻi, including golf courses and grassy areas.
• Don't feed them. Fed birds come to roads and parking lots, and many are killed by cars.
• Drive slowly in nēnē crossing zones, especially in national parks.
• Named Hawaiʻi's state bird in 1957.

Sources: National Park Service: Nēnē · DLNR: Nēnē

Last checked Oct. 29, 2026. Hours, fees and rules can change, so confirm with the official source before you go.