HONOLULU — At a ceremony at Washington Place on Friday, Gov. Josh Green signed House Bill 1899 into law that designates nine native snail species for each of the main Hawaiian Islands, including the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

What You Need To Know

  • “Hopefully, this and other actions like it will inspire another generation to commit to the aloha ʻāina that is so critical for a sustainable future in Hawaii,“ said Ken Hayes, malacologist at Bishop Museum

  • Second grader Jonie Nagle from Le Jardin Academy said, "I hope more friends will join us in our mission to protect these gems of the rainforest. I will keep telling people about them so we can continue the fight to save them from extinction.”

  • “Through the process (of) passing the kāhuli bill, I have learned how conservation work can be performed through working with the government and the power of youth voices in government,” said Logan Lee, an Iolani student

“Land snails are among the most threatened creatures in the world, with more recorded extinctions than birds and mammals combined,” said Green in a news release. “Last year, I proclaimed the ‘Year of the Kāhuli’ to help bring attention to the plight of our native snails, which in Hawaiian culture have significant roles in mele, hula, and oli. They are symbols of romance and omens. That we have so many youth who fought hard for this legislation gives me great hope for Hawaii’s future.”

A statewide snail voting campaign organized by Bishop Museum was designed to engage community members and students to recommend which snail species should be designated official state snails for each island.

“The museum and our partners are deeply grateful to see the fruition of years of work that went into making this bill a reality,” said Ken Hayes, malacologist at Bishop Museum. “Hopefully, this and other actions like it will inspire another generation to commit to the aloha ʻāina that is so critical for a sustainable future in Hawaii.

“Our kāhuli and all species that call Hawaii home deserve recognition, respect and protection. Only together can we save these precious jewels of Hawaii for the future and ensure the continued functioning of ecosystems that make this place so special,” said Hayes.

Dr. David Sischo leads the Snail Extinction Prevention Program at the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife. He said, “Kāhuli are true jewels of nature and culture. Having these species officially designated as symbols of Hawaii means so much. Knowing that their importance is now enshrined in law brings a new level of focus and pride to the collective work to prevent extinctions of the island’s irreplaceable animals and plants.”

Instead of a single species designated as the official state snail, multiple species that represent the unique flora and fauna of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and each island in Hawaii were selected.

• Hawaii Island - Hini hini kua mauna (Succinea konaensis)

• Maui - Pūpū kua mauna (Lyropupa striatula)

• Kahoolawe - Pūpū kua mauna (Pleuropoma laciniosa kahoolawensis)

• Lanai - Pūpū kuahiwi (Auriculella lanaiensis)

• Molokai - Pūpū kuahiwi (Laminella venusta)

• Oahu - Kāhuli (Kaala subrutila)

• Kauai - Erinna newcombi

• Niihau - Kahelelaniʻilaʻula (Collnista verruca)

• Northwestern Hawaiian Islands - Naka kua mauna (Endodonta christenseni)

(Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor)

Schools testified on the bill through a civics program led by the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species.

“Our students learned so much from being a part of the civic process,” shared Yvonne Chan, a teacher at Iolani School. “They loved learning about the cultural and biological importance of Hawaii’s snails. Being able to advocate for what they value and now seeing it pass, was such an amazing experience. It empowers them to raise their voices for what they believe in, join in collective action, and understand our kuleana and responsibility to our natural resources and environment.”

Logan Lee is an Iolani student. “Through the process (of) passing the kāhuli bill, I have learned how conservation work can be performed through working with the government and the power of youth voices in government,” said Lee.

Second grader Jonie Nagle from Le Jardin Academy said, “Being part of our Kāhuli Hui has been a wonderful experience! I’ve learned a lot about our kāhuli and how special they are to our Hawaiian Islands. I hope more friends will join us in our mission to protect these gems of the rainforest. I will keep telling people about them so we can continue the fight to save them from extinction.”

Le Jardin Academy teacher Serena Marsden said, “The students’ advocacy for their snails was remarkable. Witnessing them testify to legislators and engage with the governor fills me with hope that they will persist in raising their voices and shaping our future.”

Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.