The history of discovery of the fossil goose Geochen rhuax Wetmore on the island of Hawaii is reviewed through archival records and the literature. Although the age of the fossil was previously undetermined, recent radiocarbon dates establish that the age of the lava flow immediately overlying the bones was 9170 ± 100 yrs b.p. A very large extinct, flightless goose that is abundant in latest Holocene lava tubes on the western versant of the island of Hawaii was previously determined by mtDNA to be part of the Hawaiian radiation of Branta. This goose is now also known from the southeastern versant of the island. Although the holotype of Geochen rhuax is somewhat smaller in size, it is considered to belong to the same species lineage as the more recent fossils, and all giant goose fossils from Hawaiian Island are here referred to as Branta rhuax, new combination.