Hawaii's state bird is turning up dead on a Molokaʻi highway, a setback for a species that only recently clawed its way back from near-extinction.

• An adult nēnē was found dead on Kamehameha V Highway in early September.
• Its two offspring, a male and a female, were found dead nearby the next day.
• All three came from the same family, wiping out a breeding pair and its young in one stretch of road.
• The nēnē is a protected species, so vehicle strikes draw scrutiny from state wildlife officials.

Outlook: Expect state officials to push drivers to slow down in nēnē areas, with signage or enforcement likely along that highway.