Portfolio-Hawai’i

These five watercolor paintings depict endangered forest birds found only in Hawaiʻi, bearing witness to species whose futures are closely tied to the protection of native ecosystems.

A male, female, and juvenile feed on māmane blossoms. The adults’ bright red plumage contrasts with the juvenile’s mottled green‑yellow, capturing a moment of family life in Hawaiʻi’s forests. ʻIʻiwi persist mainly in high-elevation forests, threatened by habitat loss, invasive species, and avian malaria.
ʻIʻiwi in mamane in watercolor
Hawaiʻi ʻĀkepa on ʻōhiʻa lehua in watercolor. A male (red) and female (yellow-green) Hawaiʻi ʻĀkepa perch among ʻōhiʻa lehua blossoms, their contrasting plumage highlighting the species’ subtle sexual dimorphism and close pair bond. Once widespread across Hawaiʻi Island, ʻĀkepa now persist in shrinking high-elevation forests, threatened by habitat loss, invasive species, and mosquito-borne avian malaria.
Hawai’i akepa in ohia lehua in watercolor
Palila on māmane in watercolor. Two palila perch among māmane branches, a male and female indistinguishable in their soft yellow and gray plumage. Closely tied to māmane forests, palila rely on the tree’s leaves, flowers, and seeds for survival. Today, this critically endangered species persists in a narrow range on Mauna Kea, threatened by habitat degradation, invasive species, and the loss of its native forest ecosystem.
Palila on mamane in watercolor
ʻAkiapōlāʻau in pilo in watercolor. A male (yellow) and female (green) ʻAkiapōlāʻau perch in a pilo tree, their contrasting plumage and extraordinary asymmetrical bills on display. The species uses its long, curved upper bill to probe for insects and its stout lower bill to chisel into wood—an adaptation found nowhere else. Endemic to Hawaiʻi Island, ʻAkiapōlāʻau now persist mainly in high-elevation forests, threatened by habitat loss, invasive species, and mosquito-borne avian malaria.
‘Akiapola’au on pilo in watercolor
ʻAlawī in koa in watercolor. Three ʻAlawī move through the branches of a koa tree, capturing a brief moment of foraging in Hawaiʻi’s native forest canopy. With their muted plumage and active movements, ʻAlawī are often heard before they are seen. Once widespread across the islands, they now persist mainly in high-elevation forests, where habitat loss, invasive species, and mosquito-borne avian malaria continue to threaten their survival.
‘Alawi in koa tree, in watercolor