Manu o Ku
White Tern (Gygis alba)
The official bird
of
Honolulu City & County
“Manu-o-Ku
is a natural choice for us,
because its home
is the entire
City and County of Honolulu ,
which encompasses Oahu
as well as the
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands;
In addition, this handsome bird
has been a traditional
wayfinder and guide
for Polynesian voyagers
of ancient times
as well as today.”
Honolulu Mayor, Mufi Hannemann
April 2, 2007
Public Remarks
This vast territory
makes Honolulu
the largest county
in the USA
(in miles covered)
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
Papahanaumokuakea Marine Nat'l Monument
World Heritage Site
(link) .
Manu o Ku
return to Waikiki
in the late afternoon
after long days
fishing at sea.
They mean evening
and rest
are come
once more.
Breeding pairs nest
in the trees
of Honolulu Hale
(City Hall)
As the (former) mayor said,
Manu o Ku
has been our neighbor
our benefactor
our gift
for generations!
"There are joys
which long to be ours.
God sends 10,000 truths,
which come about us
like birds seeking inlet;
but we are shut up
to them,
and so they bring us
nothing,
but sit and sing
awhile upon the roof,
and then fly away."
Henry Ward Beecher
> < } } (°>
What is YOUr "Official" Bird?
' Take Peace & Smiles - Leave Your Comment '
Thanks for visiting!
Warmly, cloudia
Beautiful birds. :)
ReplyDeleteSuch gorgeous birds!
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th, fellow CC!
xoxox,
CC
oo i like that next to last one...the action shot in flight....very cool...love the white with black as well makes them pop...
ReplyDeletehappy 4th and aloha from va
More graceful than doves. Your "wood-cutting" version of a photo is unique!
ReplyDeleteMy blue jays bask in the sun on a grassy slope in the backyard. They'll sit with their back and wings spread open to sun. At least the neighborhood cat doesn't catch them! DrumMajor
Aloha Cloudia! So purely beautiful!
ReplyDeletea wonderful bird
ReplyDeletethe bird itself is a hai ku.
ReplyDeletethey are handsome!
ReplyDeleteThe official bird of New Mexico is the roadrunner. Not as pretty as yours. Commonly seen, on the road of course.
ReplyDeleteLove that last poem, and the pics are great.
Wonderful flock of comments! Thanks
ReplyDeleteThat is lovely, I actually didn't realize the City and County of Hon. had its own bird, shame on me! Beautiful captures of this ancient wayfarer and guiding light:)
ReplyDeleteMany birds here. Almost all introduced species but wonderful to have. And aren't we an introduced species ourselves!
ReplyDeleteI learn so much from you, Cloudia. I didn't know about this beautiful bird.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering why I hadn't heard from my brother in a couple of days. My sister-in-law just wrote me to tell me she'd broken her leg at work on Monday. You'd think he could have told me! Sheesh! I guess that's another reason why he hadn't been opening his e-mail.
All of them, they are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThey are nice. Ciaoo
ReplyDeleteThat white is so clean it almost shines in the dark. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe emblematic bird of our city is a gang-gang. Like many of our birds it is pretty but it's voice has been compared to the creaking of a rusty gate...
Very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteStunning! The birds and the story are beautiful. So good to be here, Cloudia!
ReplyDeletewonderful thanks
ReplyDeleteManu o Ku is such a beautiful bird!!
ReplyDeleteI love the White Tern Cloudia, have not seen before so merci beaucoup :) our national bird is the Black Swan.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDelete