Who is Redbird from Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior and what is their importance?

Mama Chia's semi-wild, red-and-white pet 'apapane, Redbird is first introduced to Dan Millman in the Kalanikaula sacred grove. When Dan takes her pretending to shape-shift into Redbird as a good trick, Mama Chia turns serious and appears to crush the bird in her hand. When she tosses it into the air, it is unharmed. Redbird flies in and out of the story several times, and joins in mourning when Mama Chia dies.