In early March, Te Papa Tongarewa was asked by an overseas museum if they could borrow ‘amakua hulu manu Kūka’ilimoku (feathered image) for an exhibition. As part of the process to allow or decline a loan, all the materials that make up an object need to be identified. We were unsure of the exact species of feathers used to cover the ‘amakua hulu manu Kūka’ilimoku. We asked our Bicultural Science Researcher Hokimate Harwood, if she could identify them.

Over time a few of the feathers had fallen from the frame, which is made from split aerial rootlets of the ‘ie’ie vine (Freycinetia) and covered with netting of olonā fibre (Touchardia latifolia). Hokimate was able to use these feathers to make positive identifications.

Fallen red feathers were identified under the microscope as originating from a passerine. The colour patterning, structure, and size of the feathers were consistent with the i’iwi (Vestiaria coccinea) bird. The i’iwi is an Hawaiian honeycreeper described as having vermillion red feathers. These red feathers cover most of the head of the image, and there are also remnants on the crest of the head.

The black and yellow feathers located on the eyebrows and ears were identified as most likely the extinct Hawaiian mamo (Drepanis pacifica), based on descriptions and images of mamo (Drepanis spp.) and o’o (Moho spp.) in Hawaiian avifauna literature. In the future, microscopic analysis could be used on fallen black or yellow feathers to distinguish between these two genera. Downy white feathers located on the crest were identified as Hawaiian fowl, most likely domesticated jungle fowl (Gallus gallus var. domesticus) by using microscopic comparisons.