Nunulu

Bonin petrel
Pterodroma hypoleuca
Photo: Megan Dalton, Pacific Rim Conservation

The word “nunulu” can be found within the chant Nā ‘Aumākua; the line “nunulu i ka lani” (line 7) refers to a sky that is filled with immense activity and that reverberates the sky. The name nunulu reflects this reverberation and activity creating an image of the annual migratory return flight home of the manu to the islands;where on the first couple days of their return, the skies are blackened by their presence. This image of their return was an important one to preserve and remember during the active translocation of the birds from Papahānaumokuākea to Oʻahu to mitigate against the threat of climate change and sea-level rise.

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