The Maui and Hawaii Amakihi (Ama ke ke) is another Hosmer Grove bird with a curved beak and beautiful plumage. It is bright green with a small black mask looking like a little green Lone Ranger. Like the ‘I’iwi it was easily photographed by sitting patiently at the campground, waiting for it to come in and feed. It is in the family of honey creepers. There are subspecies entitled Kaua’i, O’ahu, and Hawai’i (Big Island) Amakihi on the respective islands, all of which are almost indistinguishable from each other.
On David Buchanan’s (DB) return visit to Hosmer Grove (see ‘I’iwi) also got several great pictures of the Maui Amakihi. DB 3333 is about a good as it gets.
On our return trip to Maui I obtained an additional 5 photos (3292 – 3669) of the Maui Amakihi with it beautiful long green body and curved bill.
On our 2013 trip to the Big Island (Hawaii) and our visit to Hakalau Wildlife Forest refuge I obtained six photos of the Hawaiian Amakihi. The -puulaau photo ws taken by Javan Rasnake.