Wehewehe Wikiwiki Hawaiian language dictionaries

n., A group of small endemic Hawaiian honey creepers, Loxops virens; abundant on Hawaiʻi (L. v. v.), Maui (L. v. wilsoni), and Kauaʻi, uncommon on Oʻahu (L. v. chloris) and Molokaʻi, rare on Lānaʻi. The feathers are yellow and greenish, and were formerly used in feather capes. The Kauaʻi form was also called alawī kihi.

• Examples:
  • ʻAmakihi ʻawaʻawa, sour ʻamakihi [person with a sour disposition].

Yellow honeycreeper (Loxops virens). Each of the hon- eycreepers of each main island has a different name: Hawaiʻi, virens; Kauaʻi, stenjnegeri; Lanaʻi, chloroides; Maui, wilsoni; Molokaʻi, kalaʻana; Oʻahu, chloris. Their feathers were used for feather capes in earlier times. Several capes are at the Bishop Museum.