Quick Answer
"Nēnē" (written nene without macrons and pronounced "NAY-nay") is the endemic Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis) and Hawaii's official state bird. Found nowhere else in the wild on Earth, the nēnē takes its Hawaiian name from its gentle, conversational "nay-nay" call — and famously survived near-extinction when fewer than 30 birds remained in 1952.
Syllable Breakdown:
- "Nē-" (NAY) — long Hawaiian ē with a kahakō (macron), sounding like "nay" or "day".
- "-nē" (nay) — balanced second long ē, echoing the soft two-note murmur the goose makes to its mate and goslings.
Visitor Tip: Reading English spelling without macrons tricks lots of visitors into saying "NEE-nee." Remember the kahakō — nēnē = NAY-nay! (And in Hawaiian, the plural is nā nēnē, not "nenes.")
Roughly 500,000 years ago, a flock of ancestral Canada geese landed in the Hawaiian Islands and never left. Over hundreds of millennia on volcanic ʻāina, they evolved into the world's rarest terrestrial goose:
| Feature | How Nēnē Adapted to Hawaii |
|---|---|
| Lava-Hiking Feet | 50% less webbing between the toes, longer legs, and tough padded soles for climbing sharp volcanic rock instead of swimming lakes. |
| Furrowed Neck Feathers | Distinctive buff-and-black diagonal grooves down the neck, black face/crown, and soft calls instead of loud honking. |
| Winter Nesting | Unlike mainland birds, nēnē nest on the ground from August through April when Hawaiian winter rains turn upland berries and grasses green. |
| 1952 Conservation Miracle | Down to ~30 birds in 1952 due to mongooses, feral cats/pigs, and hunting; named State Bird in 1957 and restored past 3,000+ birds across Kauaʻi, Maui, Big Island, and Molokaʻi. |
If you drive up Haleakalā on Maui, through Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, or anywhere near Hanalei and Poʻipū on Kauaʻi, you'll spot bright yellow diamond road signs showing a goose silhouette: "NENE CROSSING."
Because nēnē evolved without native land mammals, they have almost zero fear of cars. Practising mālama means staying at least 60 feet (4 car lengths) back, keeping dogs leashed, and never feeding them — a single French fry teaches goslings to beg in parking lots!
"Slow down brah, get one family of nēnē crossing da road up Volcano side!"
Translation: "Slow down bro, there's a family of Hawaiian geese crossing the road up near Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park!"
"No feed da nēnē at da golf course — gotta keep 'em wild so dey stay safe."
Translation: "Don't feed the Hawaiian geese on the golf course — we have to keep them wild so they stay safe."
"Da keiki was stoked — we saw two nēnē eating ʻōhelo berries up Haleakalā."
Translation: "The kids were thrilled — we spotted two Hawaiian geese eating native ʻōhelo berries up on Haleakalā."
"It's pronounced 'NAY-nay,' not 'nee-nee' — listen how soft dey talk to each oddah."
Translation: "It's pronounced 'NAY-nay,' not 'nee-nee' — listen to how softly they call to each other."
Honu
Beloved Hawaiian green sea turtle — symbol of wisdom and luck
Pueo
Endemic Hawaiian short-eared owl and revered ʻaumakua
Lehua
Crimson blossom of the native ʻōhiʻa tree on volcanic uplands
ʻĀina
"That which feeds" — Hawaiian land, earth, and homeland
Mālama
To care for, protect, preserve, and steward
Mauka
Inland / toward the mountains — where upland nēnē nest
What does nene mean in Hawaiian?
Nēnē (pronounced NAY-nay) is the endemic Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis) and Hawaii's official state bird since 1957, named after its gentle "nay-nay" call.
How do you pronounce nene in Hawaii?
Pronounce it NAY-nay (rhyming with "day-day"), never "NEE-nee." Both vowels carry long Hawaiian macrons (nēnē).
How did the nēnē get to Hawaii and why are its feet only half-webbed?
Nēnē evolved from Canada geese that reached Hawaii roughly 500,000 years ago, developing semi-webbed toes and tough foot pads to walk across rugged volcanic lava flows rather than swim.
Are nēnē still endangered in Hawaii?
After rebounding from just ~30 birds in 1952 to more than 3,000 today, nēnē were upgraded from endangered to threatened in 2019 — and remain strictly protected by federal and state law.
What should you do if you see a nēnē in Hawaii?
Slow down on roads, give them at least 60 feet (4 car lengths) of space, keep pets leashed, and never feed them.
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