Hawaii's state bird is the nēnē (Branta sandvicensis), also known as the Hawaiian goose. It's a native waterbird found nowhere else on Earth, and it's been through one of the most dramatic conservation comebacks in American wildlife history.
What Is Hawaii’s State Bird? The Nēnē (Hawaiian Goose)
Marcus Webb
27 Mar 2026
What the law actually says
Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 5, Section 5-17 makes it official with straightforward language: "The nene (Branta sandwicensis), also known as the Hawaiian goose, is established and designated as the official bird of the State." That's the exact wording in the statute. Interestingly, the territorial government first named the nēnē as Hawaii's bird back in 1957, but it took until 1988 for the state Legislature to formally correct an oversight and lock it in through legislation (L 1988, c 178, §1). So the bird has been Hawaii's symbol for decades, but the law catching up took a while.
What the nēnē looks like
If you've ever seen a Canada goose, you already have a rough starting point. The nēnē is a similar shape and size, ranging from about 21 to 26 inches in length, but the coloring is noticeably different. Adults have a mostly dark brown or sepia body with a black face and crown, cream-colored cheeks, and a pale yellow-to-white neck with black streaks running through it. Unlike the Canada goose, which has solid black coloring across the neck, the nēnē's black is limited to the face, cap, and hindneck, with those buff or cream cheeks giving it a distinctive, softer look.
A quick field tip worth remembering: if you spot a medium-sized goose with a strongly striped neck and sandy-colored cheeks on a Hawaiian lava field or grassy slope rather than near a body of water, there's a very good chance you're looking at a nēnē. They've adapted to lava terrain and shrublands far more than most goose species, which usually stick close to wetlands.
Where you can actually find one
Nēnē live across four of the main Hawaiian Islands: Hawaiʻi (the Big Island), Maui, Kauaʻi, and Molokaʻi. They're remarkably adaptable in terms of elevation, ranging from sea level all the way up to around 2,400 meters (about 7,800 feet). The Big Island's volcanic parks and Kauaʻi's coastal areas are among the more reliable spots for sightings. There was even a single pair documented on Oʻahu in 2014, though that island isn't a regular part of their range. Many of the areas where nēnē are found today are actively managed for conservation by the State of Hawaiʻi and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The comeback story is worth knowing
By the 1950s, the nēnē was on the edge of extinction. The wild population had dropped to as few as 30 birds. Habitat loss, introduced predators, and hunting had nearly wiped out a species that had lived in Hawaii for thousands of years. What followed was one of the longer-running wildlife recovery efforts in the islands, involving the State of Hawaiʻi, the USFWS, and various conservation partners working to breed birds in captivity and restore habitat.
The effort paid off. In 2019, the nēnē was federally reclassified from "endangered" to "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act, which reflects real population growth. That said, the State of Hawaiʻi still classifies the nēnē as endangered at the state level, and for good reason. The bird still faces serious pressure from nonnative mammals that prey on eggs and chicks, diseases like toxoplasmosis (spread through cats), nutritional challenges at high-elevation habitats, and human disturbance. Recovery is real, but it's not finished.
A few details worth highlighting for classrooms and visitors
The name is spelled "nēnē" in modern Hawaiian, with macrons (called kahakō) over both e's. That's the standardized spelling used by the Hawaii Division of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and other state agencies, and it reflects correct Hawaiian pronunciation. The scientific name you'll see in older sources is sometimes written as Branta sandvicensis and sometimes as Branta sandwicensis. Both appear in official materials, reflecting the bird's connection to the Sandwich Islands, the name European explorers once used for the Hawaiian Islands.
The nēnē is native and endemic to Hawaii, meaning it evolved here and exists naturally nowhere else in the world. That's part of what makes it such a fitting state symbol. It isn't just a bird that happens to live in Hawaii. It's a bird that is Hawaii, shaped by the same volcanic landscape that defines the islands.
Hawaii's state bird and flower together
If you've been looking for both Hawaii's state bird and flower in one place: the nēnē is the bird, and the pua aloalo (yellow hibiscus, Hibiscus brackenridgei) is the state flower. Both are native Hawaiian species, and both carry conservation significance. The yellow hibiscus is also listed as endangered, so Hawaii has made a point of choosing symbols that reflect the ecological reality of the islands, not just their beauty.
Quick reference: nēnē at a glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Official name in statute | Nene (Branta sandwicensis), Hawaiian goose |
| Modern Hawaiian spelling | Nēnē |
| Designated official | Hawaii Revised Statutes § 5-17 |
| Legislation year | 1988 (L 1988, c 178, §1); territorial designation 1957 |
| Size | 21 to 26 inches in length |
| Key ID markers | Black face/cap, cream cheeks, striped pale neck, sepia body |
| Range | Big Island, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi; sea level to 7,800 ft |
| Federal status | Threatened (reclassified 2019) |
| State status | Endangered (State of Hawaiʻi) |
| Lowest wild population recorded | About 30 birds (1950s) |
FAQ
What is the state bird for Hawaii, and how do I avoid confusing it with other geese I might see there?
The official state bird is the nēnē (Hawaiian goose), and the most common mistake is mixing it up with other geese you might see in Hawaii (like Canada geese) that are not native and are not state symbols.
Why do I sometimes see different spellings like nene versus nēnē, and Branta sandvicensis versus sandwicensis?
For spelling and pronunciation, use “nēnē” (with kahakō macrons). In older writing you may see the scientific name spelled two different ways, but the bird the law designates is the Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis/sandwicensis).
Is the nēnē found only in Hawaii, or are there similar birds elsewhere?
The nēnē is native and endemic, meaning it evolved in Hawaii and naturally occurs nowhere else. If you find a “Hawaii goose” in a general travel context, double check that it specifically says nēnē, because name confusion happens a lot with generic goose talk.
Where should I look today for the best chance of seeing the nēnē, and what’s the most realistic strategy for spotting them?
The safest practical approach is to go to managed conservation areas or known visitor-friendly sites on Hawaiʻi, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Molokaʻi. Since they range from sea level up to high elevations, you do not need to hunt only in wetland spots, but you should still treat sightings as wildlife watching, not close-up interaction.
What quick visual cues help me confirm it’s a nēnē and not another goose?
If you see a medium goose with a striped neck and sandy or cream-colored cheeks on a lava field or grassy slope, that fits the nēnē look more than typical Canada goose markings. A strong tell is that black is limited mostly to the face, cap, and hindneck, not a fully dark neck like many other geese.
Can I see the nēnē on Oʻahu, or should I plan for the other islands?
Yes, there was a single reported pair on Oʻahu in 2014, but it is not considered regular range. If your trip is limited to Oʻahu, treat nēnē sightings as unlikely and focus expectations on Hawaiʻi, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Molokaʻi.
Does the nēnē being “doing better” mean it’s safe to approach, feed, or get too close?
In the wild, they face ongoing threats even though federal status improved. They still remain listed as endangered at the state level, so if you’re visiting habitat areas, keep noise and distance up, avoid feeding, and do not move off-trail where you might disturb nesting areas.
I’m doing a school or travel project, what’s the bird and flower pairing for Hawaii’s official symbols?
A good next step is to learn the state symbol pairings before your trip or project. Hawaii’s state bird is the nēnē, and the state flower is pua aloalo (yellow hibiscus), which is useful if you’re putting together a simple “symbols of Hawaii” board or worksheet.
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