Humans have long brought beloved plants along with them, like canoe plants. In modern times, we are now dealing with thousands of different non-native plants and millions of tons of cargo brought into Hawaiʻi every year. With almost no laws restricting the import of new plants, unfortunately over … [Read more...] about Cultivating Connection: Plant Adoptions Empower Communities to Grow Native
That’s Hau!
History Commonly known as hau, Hibiscus tiliaceus has an extensive native range encompassing both the Pacific and Indian Ocean areas. Hau is likely an indigenous plant, although evidence supporting this theory is obscure. The tree is adapted for ocean dispersal and grows well in the salt spray. … [Read more...] about That’s Hau!
How to Make Native Holiday Wreaths
Even though wreaths made of native plants do not have the classic holiday scents, they do capture the bounty and beauty of our landscapes during hoʻoilo (wet season). In 'Ōlelo Hawaiʻi, lei can mean a garland or a wreath. Therefore, many principles in lei-making can be applied to wreath-making. … [Read more...] about How to Make Native Holiday Wreaths
Identify Plants Like A Pro: Evaluating and Ranking Plant ID Apps
Accurate and timely identification of unfamiliar plant species plays an integral part in the early detection of spreading or newly emerging invasive weeds. After all, it's crucial to know the species, especially when control measures are needed. A plant ID app is any app that takes a picture of a … [Read more...] about Identify Plants Like A Pro: Evaluating and Ranking Plant ID Apps
Top 10 Fire-Resistant Plants for Hawaiʻi
Wildfires in Hawaiʻi used to be extremely rare as the only sources of ignition were eruptions and dry lightning strikes. Therefore, our native ecosystems are especially vulnerable to fire disturbance. Unfortunately, modern land use change has resulted in the extensive spread of fire-prone grasses … [Read more...] about Top 10 Fire-Resistant Plants for Hawaiʻi
Canoe Plants
Mea kanu (plants, crops) that sustained Hawaiians for 1,500 years Although the landscapes within an ahupuaʻa would have varied depending on available resources, the cultivated plants listed above were near constant throughout the islands. Some of these important plants were already here when … [Read more...] about Canoe Plants
