A rare and near extinct "Hylaeus assimulans" or Hawaiian yellow faced bee. I found it on the Honolua coastline. They're trying to get this on the endangered species list but the feds are dragging their feet. These guys may be gone before they do it!
Found on the Honolua coastline in an area 75 yards x 30 yards. I could not find them anyway else. There wasn't any other bees in this area either. It was flying between Ohelo Kai flowers.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoomaluo/6467187381/
More info here:
http://www.xerces.org/hylaeus-assimulans/
"The biggest threat to H. assimulans is habitat loss. However, collections are so few that it is difficult to determine its precise habitat needs. Dry forest areas have been especially hard hit on the middle islands of Maui Nui and Oahu.
No known populations of H. assimulans are on protected land, with the exception of that on Kahoolawe. None are in immediate danger of destruction due to development, but all sites are highly susceptible to fire. Maintenance of remaining habitat is the highest priority. Research is needed in order to determine life history requirements, including nest sites and pollen requirements, and to search for additional populations, especially on Oahu.
Historic collections of H. assimulans are from Oahu, Maui, and Lanai; more recently it has also been taken on Kahoolawe, and it probably previously inhabited Molokai as well. No recent collections have been made from Oahu, and on the remaining islands it has been found only as few individuals from scattered sites."
