The Official Hawaii State Insect

Kamehameha Butterfly

The Kamehameha butterfly (Vanessa tameamea) is a species of butterfly native to the Hawaiian Islands. It is the official state insect of Hawaii and was named after King Kamehameha I, the first monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The butterfly is the only species of butterfly native to the Hawaiian Islands and is endemic to the archipelago. It is also the only member of its genus, Vanessa, found in the United States. The Kamehameha butterfly is diurnal. This means, the butterfly is active during the day, and feeds on a variety of nectar and pollen from flowers, as well as other vegetation. It has a wingspan of 2-3 inches and is characterized by its distinctive black and yellow wings, with a white band across the middle.

The Kamehameha butterfly became the official state insect of Hawaii in 2009, when it was selected by a group of students from Maui in a statewide contest. The students wanted to honor the legacy of King Kamehameha I, who unified the Hawaiian Islands in 1810. The Kamehameha butterfly has since become an important symbol of Hawaii’s cultural identity and is used to promote environmental awareness and conservation in the state. The butterfly is also featured on the Hawaiian quarter, which was issued in 2008 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of King Kamehameha I's unification of the Islands.

Sadly, due to the small size of Hawaiian islands and often windy conditions, many of these lovely creatures are blown out over the ocean, never to be seen again!

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