Kāhuli – Hawaiʻi’s native snails

Did you know Hawaiʻi has native land snails? They are important both ecologically and culturally. The year 2023 was the Year of the Kāhuli in Hawaiʻi, and for many of us, it was the first introduction to these adorable, and important little beings. Unfortunately, 60% of the species are extinct, and at least a third of those left are critically endangered.

But a lot of people are working very hard to save the kāhuli! Part of that work is educating others about these “jewels of the forest.”

Bishop Museum has free guides to help with identifying both native and non-native snails: https://www.bishopmuseum.org/malacology-outreach/ Invasive snails not only crowd native snails out of their habitats… but they’re also hungry predators, killing kāhuli that aren’t protected by fencing.

A new site, Hawaiʻi Kāhuli, Voice of the Forest, is a beautiful resource for all who want to learn more about these native treasures. The site includes videos, art lessons, reference photos and species information, as well as links to many other sources of information.