Linda Joy Shishan “Kauaʻi ʻŌʻō’s Dream” – 2026 Winner
Linda Joy Shishan – “Kauaʻi ʻŌʻō’s Dream”
Orlando, FL
Division II: 19–22 Years Old
Recorded Kauaʻi ʻŌʻō bird song, flute, and electronic synthesizer
My composition for solo flute and electronic media is inspired by the last recording of the song of the Hawaiian Kauaʻi ʻŌʻō bird, captured one year before the species was declared extinct. Several catalysts contributed to the extinction, including habitat loss, avian disease caused by mosquito overpopulation, and invasive predators introduced on white settler boats as they arrived in Hawaiʻi. The last documented bird was only heard, not seen. A procreant male calling out for a female Kauaʻi ʻŌʻō that no longer existed. A call that lived longer than its response. The flute represents the Kauaʻi ʻŌʻō bird; the electronic media represents both a musical representation of its surrounding environment and a metaphysical space of loneliness. I hope to help others learn about the Kauaʻi ʻŌʻō’s story and invest in emerging conservation efforts to protect native avian wildlife.