-
Akia
Wikstroemia uva-ursa, known as Akia in Hawaiian, is only found in Hawaii, which makes it endemic. Used by Hawaiians as a fish poison so the men throwing nets could catch more fish. Common now throughout Hawaii, originally rare, found in coastal areas of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, and Maui. Easy to […]
Read More -
Ohelo
Vaccinium reticulatum, known as ʻŌhelo ʻai in Hawaiian, is a species of flowering plant in the heather family, Ericaceae, that is endemic to Hawai’i. It grows at altitudes of 640–3,700 m (2,100–12,100 ft) on lava flows and freshly distributed volcanic ash on Maui and Hawai’i, and less commonly on Kauai,Oahu, […]
Read More -
Milo
The generic name Thespesia is derived from the Greek thespesios, divine, referring to T. populnea, which was collected in Tahiti by Captain Cook’s expedition in 1769 and was reported to be a sacred tree and planted around places of worship. The specific epithet populnea, poplar-like, likely in reference to the […]
Read More -
Pukiawe
Styphelia tameiameiae is occurs in a variety of forms ranging from low, spreading shrubs to small erect trees. In the tree form, it can grow up to 15 feet tall. The bark is brown to black and rough, especially on the larger stems. The bark on the slender twigs is […]
Read More -
‘Aki’aki Grass
Sporobolus virginicus, known as ʻAkiʻaki in Hawaiian, belongs to the Poaceae (Grass family). Of the seven or eight species now found in Hawaii, only this species is indigenous. The genus name Sporobolus is derived from the Greek sporos, seed, and ballein, to throw, in reference to the fruit (the pericarp) […]
Read More -
Mamane
Sophora chrysophylla is a large shrub or medium sized tree up to 50 feet tall. The branches are golden brown with ridges running along them. Each leaf consists of 6 to 10 pairs of oval leaflets. The light green leaflets range in size from 3/8 to 2 inches long and […]
Read More -
Ohai
Sesbania tomentosa is a variable species. It is usually a low, spreading shrub with horizontal or arching branches; it is can also have a treelike habit up to 15 feet tall. In the wild, a single plant can cover a large area, but in cultivation it will tend to be […]
Read More -
Naupaka
Ten species of naupaka (Scaevola spp.) are native to the Hawaiian Islands in the Goodenia family or Goodeniaceae. The genus name comes from the Greek, scaevus, meaning left-handed or awkward, perhaps referring to the signature half-flowers resembling an open fan or hand. The feature species is one of two native […]
Read More -
Iliahialoe
This Sandalwood is endemic to Hawaii and found throughout the state. Grows to a height of 30 feet and can get 10 feet in width. Fragrant flowers and fragrant heart wood is what this tree was prized for. This type of Sandalwood grows from sea level to an elevation of […]
Read More -
Alahe’e
Psydrax odorata, known as Alaheʻe in Hawaiian, is indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands and found in habitats that vary such as shrubland to dry, mesic and wet forests from about 30 to over 3,800 feet. Belonging to the Coffee family (Rubiaceae), alaheʻe is locally renown for its wonderfully fragrant flowers […]
Read More -
Loulu
Pritchardia are single trunked palm trees with fan-shaped leaves. The Hawaiian Pritchardia are generally medium to large sized palms growing from 25 to 60 feet tall. The color and hairiness of the leaves, the length of the flowering stems, and the size and color of the fruit vary by species. […]
Read More -
Ohe makai
ʻOhe makai belongs to the Ginseng family (Araliaceae), which also includes other native trees such as ʻōlapa (Cheirodendron spp.), munroidendron or pōkalakala, and ʻohe mauka. The non-native and invasive octopus tree or heʻe (Schefflera actinophylla) is also in this same family. The former generic name Reynoldsia is named on behalf […]
Read More -
Halapepe
The generic name Pleomele is derived from the Greek pleon, many, and melon, apple, in reference to the large inflorescence that produce many fruits. The specific epithet auwahiensis refers to Auwahi, Maui, a remnant native dry forest set aside to preserve native flora of Maui. This hala pepe is among […]
Read More -
Hoawa
Hoawa in Hawaiian, Pittosporum hosmeri, is part of a family that has about 150 species of Pittosporum throughout Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and on a number of Pacific Islands, including the Hawaiian Islands with eleven endemic species. The generic name Pittosporum is derived from the Greek pittos, pitch, and […]
Read More -
Lauae fern
Phylmatosorus grossus, known as Lauae fern in Hawaiians, is from old world tropics with scattered, erect, usually lobed fronds up to three feet high, arising from black-scaly, creeping horizontal stems at the soil surface, or epiphytic on other plants. The leaves commonly emit an odor reminiscent of vanilla and are […]
Read More
