A small, rare Hawaiian honeycreeper of native forests above 5,000 feet elevation on Hawaii Island. Its black mask is broader than that of the male amakihis. The bill is straighter than that of Amakihi, but longer than that of Hawaii Akepa. Searches for insects by creeping on tree trunks and branches, usually high in the forest canopy. May join mixed-species foraging flocks from late summer through the winter. Song is a trill that descends in pitch; several songs usually given in succession. Call is a soft “squeet.”