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The Hylaeus Project: A Documentation of the Endangered Native Bees of Hawai'i

In Summer 2013 I joined entomologist and composer Lisa Schonberg on the shores and mountains of O'ahu, Kaua'i, and Big Island (Hawai'i Island) on a search for the native Hylaeus bee. Having previously worked with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation Lisa had investigated how to best draw attention to this largely underappreciated pollinator of Hawai'i and strategize on enlisting individual species as endangered. This project provided an opportunity to go further in creatively researching and using the process to create and collaborate. Along with the publication, The Hylaeus Project, printed by Publication Studio and illustrated by myself, Lisa used field recordings from various Hylaeus habitat to compose scores for mutli-person percussion orchestra, Secret Drum Band. She has presented on the project both musically and orally in the continental US and when returning to the islands. In 2016 the United States federal government listed Hylaeus anthracinus, H. longiceps, H. hilaris, H. facilis, H. mana, H. assimulans and H. kuakea, the first bees ever offered this level of protection.

My illustrations for this project worked as the primary mode of visual documentation. These were mainly botanical and invertebrate line drawings and watercolors of various habitats all drawn while in the field. I also produced a series of three panel comics after our return to reproduce small moments from our trip. These added more of a personal perspective to our journey and experiences while in the field.

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