Crossword Clue: State bird of Hawaii
Here's the answer to the State bird of Hawaii crossword clue, with an explanation and where it has appeared.
Definition & answer: NENE
NENE solves the clue "State bird of Hawaii". Spanning 4 letters (2 vowels, 2 consonants), it begins at N and ends at E. Like most crossword fill, it lives at the intersection of two words, so a single confirmed crossing letter frequently reveals the whole entry.
Origin & meaning
Named for its soft call, the nene grazes on lava slopes and grasslands. The neat N-E-N-E repetition is a constructor's friend in tight spots.
Common usage
Nene turns up often in crosswords because of that letter mix. Words like NENE interlock cleanly with longer entries, so constructors reach for them to make a grid fit together without awkward clashes. Given a 4-square slot and a crossing letter or two, it's usually quick to confirm.
Crossword trivia
At 4 letters, NENE shows up in daily mini and themed puzzles far more than longer, obscure words. It's the kind of entry worth memorizing — the more common short words you know cold, the faster you solve.
Stuck on this clue?
If this clue won't come, leave it and fill the answers that cross it. Once a couple of NENE's letters are locked by neighboring words, the entry tends to reveal itself. Crossings beat staring at a clue every time.
This clue in different puzzles
The clue "State bird of Hawaii" is just one way to arrive at NENE. Across different puzzles and editors you may see the same answer clued as "Hawaiian goose". Recognizing that a single answer can wear many clues is one of the fastest ways to level up as a solver.
Example sentences
- "I second-guessed it, but the crossing answers confirmed NENE was right."
- "I had the crossing letters, so writing NENE into the grid took no time at all."
- "Nene is the kind of answer that clicks the moment you spot one letter."