A manu o Kū mural at the Waikiki Aquarium

Manu o Kū have been documented nesting in the courtyard inside the Waikiki Aquarium since at least 2022, and Hui Manu o Kū has been fortunate to have an educational table there while the terns are actively breeding! This year, the aquarium's striped mullet tank was removed due to a leak and a temporary construction wall erected in its place, right beside the terns' trees. Noting another mural lining the former Edge of the Reef exhibit, our Kupu service member Kelly proposed a manu o Kū mural to aquarium staff, who enthusiastically agreed! Kelly's design was approved and painting began on November 3, 2025. Over four days, she and volunteers Sora, Iris, Charlotte, Noelle and Bella transformed the blank blue wall into a tribute to the manu o Kū who have chosen the Waikiki Aquarium as the place to raise their chicks! 

Photos courtesy of Sora Gallo and Kelly Furuya