(nay-nay)

Occasionally found wandering near Poipu Bay Golf Course, the indigenous Nene is the official State Bird of Hawaii. By the 1950’s, there were only thirty Nene left in Hawaii. Today that number has increased to about 800 due to conservation and breeding efforts. The Nene ranges from 21–26” in length and weighs about 4–5 lbs. This goose seldom swims and, unlike other geese, its foot is only partially webbed. The Nene is not a migratory bird and is strictly confined to Hawaii. It is an endangered species that has been threatened by mongoose and feral dogs and cats. The average life span of the Nene is a surprising 32 years or more.