It is thought that the nene evolved from the Canada goose (Branta canadensis), which most likely arrived on the Hawaiian islands about 500,000 years ago, shortly after the island of Hawaiʻi was formed.
Hawaiigåsen utvecklades ur kanadagäss (Branta canadensis), som med största sannolikhet migrerade till Hawaii för 500 000 år sedan, en kort tid efter att ön Hawaii formades.