For decades, strange discoveries at the governor's mansion have been leaving people perplexed. But recently, the mystery was linked to a certain kind of celebrity.

The mystery comes down to one simple question: why do fish keep showing up in the governor's front yard?

"This fish was found yesterday here on the grounds at Washington Place," said curator Corinne Chun Fujimoto.

Half a mile from the ocean, even a flying fish can't fly that far.

But Fujimoto said for years all kinds of small fish have been showing up at the governor's mansion.

"Our deputy sheriffs who are here around the clock would often come across these fish on the grounds not knowing where they came from," Fujimoto said.

The big breakthrough came one day when everyone finally stopped looking down… and started looking up into the trees. Suddenly it all made sense.

"The mystery has been solved," Fujimoto said.

Turns out these fairy terns, known as the Tinkerbell of seabirds have been raising their chicks here since the late 1960's.

"This is one of their eggs," Fujimoto said. "They bring the fish back and feed it to their young whole."

And every now and then, they drop their lunch.

If the birds look familiar it's because last year the mayor made them "official."

"It is with great pride that I proclaim today…that the manou o ku, the white tern, become official bird of City and County of Honolulu," said Mayor Mufi Hannemann.

A celebrity bird with special powers, even holding up construction at a Waikiki hotel.

"And, until that baby tern fledges and leaves the nest, we're obligated to keep the tree in its present state," reflected Eric Masutomi, vice president, planning.

"These birds are amazing… they have this wonderful tenacity," Fujimoto said.

And wonderful balance too. The terns don't build a nest, they just put their eggs right on the branch and mom and dad take turns sitting on top.

An admirer of such great teamwork, Fujimoto is happy to pick up their lost snacks.

"We hope that they will continue to stay and come back," said Fujimoto.

And now is a great time to check it out yourself. The terns' peak egg-laying time is from May to June and you can watch them in the governor's yard right from the sidewalk on Beretania Street.

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