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Kahuli at Honouliuli Preserve
Posted: April 4, 2008
I lead a small group on a hike at Honouliuli Preserve above Makakilo to record the sounds made by Kahuli or Oahu Tree Snails. Hawaiian tradition says that kahuli “sing” or “whistle”, but snail biologists say they do not have the capacity to make such sounds. The objective of the group was to determine whether the snails make such sounds.Â
Kahuli, also known as Pupu Kani Oe (Achatinella mustelina) are an endangered species with only a few isolated populations remaining in the wild. They are endemic to Hawaii and are found no where else in the world. Kahuli are active mostly at night. During the day they sleep on the underside of leaves. The Nature Conservancy advised us go at first light because the snails are sometimes still active in the early hours of the morning.
Since it rained the night before, the vegetation on Palehua-Palikea Ridge was still wet at the first light. When we first arrived we were thrilled to see a dark colored kahuli with brown and white patterns on its shell moving on ohia branches (Metrosideros polymorpha) covered with moss.Â
We also saw several light colored kahuli on na’ena’e (Dubautia spp.) with beige bands on their shells. For twenty or so minutes after we arrived, the snails were active. But none of them sang, whistled, or made any audible sound as they glided across the surface of leaves and branches.Â
Not longer after we arrived, the sun rose higher over the horizon and the snails moved to the underside of leaves, retracted into their shells, and went to sleep.  Perhaps the snails vocalize only in the dark and go silent before first light. Perhaps they sing only during mating season to attract mates.  The possibilities are many — additional investigations are needed to reconcile the gulf between Hawaiian tradition and science.Â
Many thanks to The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii for allowing us to hike the Palehua-Palikea Trail at Honouliuli Preserve to visit these exceedingly rare creatures.Â
July 26th, 2008 at 1:42 am
[…] within the A. mustelina species.  To see more kahuli photos, read about my adventures at Honouliuli Preserve and on the Poamoho […]