 Apapane forage in the canopies of "ōhia" ("Metrosideros polymorpha") trees, drinking nectar from the flowers and simultaneously pollinating them.Hawaiians used red feathers from primarily ʻiʻiwi, but also used ʻapapane feathers to adorn the "ahuula" (capes), "mahiole" (helmets), and "nā lei hulu" (feather leis) of "alii" (Hawaiian nobility).Apapane are small at when fully grown.