By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Columnist

There are four elevators in town that take you to the native Hawaiian forest.

Not physically, but in sound and spirit.

The "Step into the Hawaiian Forest" program places photographic murals of native forests on elevator walls and native bird calls on elevator speakers.

The soundtrack has attracted the most attention, said Beth McDermott, consultant for the program, which was produced by the nonprofit environmental organization Malama Hawai'i and the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

"We've had a few surprising responses to the soundtrack, from a woman at Ali'i Place who called building security in a frenzy when the exhibit opened, convinced there were birds caught in the elevator shaft, to some folks at 1132 Bishop St. who clearly don't get out of the city much, who thought the elevators were 'squeaking,' " she said.

Hawai'i's native birds have a special sound, from the tweets of the honeycreepers and the honks of the nene to the warbling of native thrushes. The sounds in the elevators are Audubon Society tapes recorded by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. The bird calls represent the forest birds depicted on the elevator walls.

"I think it's just a great idea, bringing the forest to downtown where people work all day," said Kaimuki resident Ruth Uemura. "I've talked to friends who work downtown and they say it's like a little getaway."

Through the end of April, you can find O'ahu's Mount Ka'ala Natural Area Reserve in an elevator at Ali'i Place, 1099 Alakea St.; Maui's Pu'u Kukui Forest Preserve at the Pacific Guardian Center, 737 Bishop St., Makai Tower; Moloka'i's Kamakou Preserve at 1132 Bishop St., and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park at Topa Financial Center, 700 Bishop St., Bishop Tower.

The exhibits will move to new locations in May and June. For details, check the listing at the Malama Hawai'i Web site at malamahawaii.org.

CDs of the bird songs will be available in a few weeks, and prints of the images on the elevator walls are available now through McDermott by calling 988-6004. The money goes to help support forest protection in Hawai'i.

"I created this exhibit realizing that most of Hawai'i's urban residents have never and may never have the opportunity to visit an intact native Hawaiian forest," she said. "These images and songs now provide an intimate setting where, for a few moments, a few floors, the visual splendor of our native flora and subtle melodies of our native birds can be fully appreciated, surprising and delighting people into a new appreciation of our natural heritage."

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com, (808) 245-3074 or P.O. Box 524, Lihu'e, HI 96766.