Hawaii State Insect

Pulelehua or Kamehameha butterfly Vanessa tameamea Adopted: April 23, 2009

Hawaii State Insect: Pulelehua
Photograph: Forest Starr & Kim Starr

Adoption of the Hawaii State Insect

Introduced on January 23, 2009, House Bill No. 135 (HB135) was approved by both houses of the Hawaiian Legislature by mid-April, 2009. When HB135 was signed by Governor Linda Lingle on April 23, 2009, the pulelehua, or Kamehameha butterfly, became the official insect of Hawaii.

Pulelehua is the Hawaiian name for the Kamehameha butterfly. It is one of only two species that is native to Hawaii.

The other native is the Koa butterfly, (Udara blackburnii). It's sometimes called Blackburn's bluet or the Hawaiian blue.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TWENTY-FITH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

H.B. NO. 135

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE STATE INSECT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Chapter 5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§5- State insect. The pulelehua (Vanessa tameamea), also known as the Kamehameha butterfly, is established and designated as the official insect of the State."

SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Sources...

Bill Status and Documents. Hawaii State Legislature. 2009. 29 April 2009

Additional Information

Vanessa tameamea - Kamehameha butterfly: Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project(HEAR): Insects of Hawaii.

Good Guy - 50. Kamehameha Butterfly: The Bishop Museum: Hawaii Biological Survey.

Vanessa tameamea Eschscholtz, 1821: Butterflies of Hawaii by Takashi Kumon.

Pulelehua (Kamehameha Butterfly): From author and illustrator Tammy Yee.

Vanessa tameamea Eschscholtz, 1821: Photographs from Butterflies of America.

Notes and Observations on the Biology and Host Preferences of Vanessa tameamea (Nymphalidae): Journal of the Lepidopterist' Society made available by Yale University.

State Insects: Complete list of official state insects.

More symbols & emblems: Complete list of official Hawaii state symbols.

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