At the Honolulu Zoo, caterpillars transform into Kamehameha butterflies
HONOLULU — Kamehameha butterflies fly all around Kale Taylor as he stands in the Honolulu Zoo’s butterfly exhibit. Eventually, one lands on his hand.
Taylor is a zookeeper at the Honolulu Zoo, where he works with about 30 different creatures, including the Kamehameha butterflies, Japanese giant salamanders, smoky jungle frogs, pink-winged stick insects, tarantulas, Komodo dragons, and many more.
On a hot summer day in July, Taylor took Spectrum News into the zoo’s butterfly exhibit. To enter, we pass through two doors and a curtain made of chains, which keep the winged insects from escaping.
In the center of the exhibit is a mamaki tree, where the butterflies land and lay their eggs. Nearby, a papaya sits on a plate that is placed amidst palapalai ferns for the butterflies to snack on. Saucers full of sugar water, which Taylor calls “nectar cups,” are set around the exhibit for the butterflies to drink. A mister, like in the produce aisle at a grocery store, occasionally sprinkles water.
