Nevermore...

This is a Raven from Alaska, the home of our native brothers and sisters as well as the home of Native Hawaiians who left these islands at various times in the past 220 years. This Raven is robust and of varied genetic composition. Our native crow, the ʻalalā has not fared so well. Of at least five species of Native Hawaiian crow which once existed, only the ʻalalā tenuously survives to this day.

Between 1993 and 1998, 27 captive ʻalalā were released into the wild. 21 died. 6 were recaptured and returned to the captive flock. In 2005, the Maui and Keauhou Bird Conservation Centers held the World's population at the time, 55 individuals. In 2008, three years later, there were 56 individuals in the World.

A variety of issues plague the restoration and survival of the ʻalalā including predation, loss of habitat, a dwindling genetic pool and loss of instinctive behaviors. If we come to the precipice of losing the ʻalalā, like so many other of our Native Hawaiian birds, I would support wholeheartedly cross-breeding the ʻalalā with a crow or raven to build resilience and survivability as well as numbers.

I would much rather have a hapa-ʻalalā then no ʻalalā for my great grandchildren to see and hear. A genetic infusion of other ethnic DNA into the blood of my pure Native Hawaiian kupuna is one of the reasons why I am still here. Survival of catastrophic disease and epidemics. The pure Native Hawaiian 'uhane, or spirit, can inhabit any kino, or body. Otherwise, quoth the Raven, "Nevermore..."