HONOLULU – Governor Josh Green, M.D., has signed legislation designating an official state kāhuli, or snail, for each of the main Hawaiian islands, as well as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. In a ceremony today at Washington Place, Governor Green signed into law House Bill 1899, which recognizes nine native snail species as state snails.
"Land snails are among the most threatened creatures in the world, with more recorded extinctions than birds and mammals combined," said Governor Green. He also expressed his hope for the future of Hawaiʻi, stating, "That we have so many youth who fought hard for this legislation gives me great hope for Hawaiʻi’s future."
The Bishop Museum played a significant role in the process, with Ken Hayes, a malacologist at the museum, expressing gratitude for the years of work that led to the bill becoming a reality. Dr. David Sischo, who leads the Snail Extinction Prevention Program at the Department of Land and Natural Resources, added, “Kāhuli are true jewels of nature and culture. Having these species officially designated as symbols of Hawaiʻi means so much."
The legislation was the result of a statewide snail voting campaign organized by the Bishop Museum, involving community members and students from across the state. Schools, such as ʻIolani School and Le Jardin Academy, actively participated in the civic process, with students testifying on the bill and learning about the cultural and biological importance of Hawaiʻi’s snails.
Yvonne Chan, a teacher at ʻIolani School, highlighted the educational value of the experience, stating, “Our students learned so much from being a part of the civic process. They loved learning about the cultural and biological importance of Hawaiʻi’s snails." Student Logan Lee from ʻIolani School reflected on the power of youth voices in government, mentioning, “Through the process for passing the kāhuli bill, I have learned how conservation work can be performed through working with the government and the power of youth voices in government."
Second grader Jonie Nagle from Le Jardin Academy shared her enthusiasm for protecting the snails, saying, “Being part of our Kāhuli Hui has been a wonderful experience! I’ve learned a lot about our kāhuli and how special they are to our Hawaiian Islands."
Serena Marsden, a teacher at Le Jardin Academy, commended the students for their advocacy efforts, expressing hope for their continued engagement in shaping the future.
The designation of official state snails for Hawai'i marks a significant step towards recognizing and protecting the unique biodiversity of the islands, emphasizing the cultural and ecological importance of these native species.