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Articles for May, 2008

Red Lehua-Iliahi Lei

Posted: May 31, 2008

I was thrilled to arrange with Brian Choy to make an authentic lehua-iliahi lei made only with flowers, leaves, and ferns available to the Hawaiians prior to western contact.  Iliahi is the native sandalwood tree which produces clusters of cute little flowers.   

Ahihi at Mount Kaala

Posted: May 26, 2008

When I climbed to the summit of Mount Kaala in the Waianae Mountains, I hiked through a grove of ahihi trees — a distinct species of ohia lehua endemic only to the island of Oahu. 

Native Forests at Mount Kaala

Posted: May 21, 2008

I climbed to the summit of Mount Kaala at 4,025 feet elevation in the Waianae Mountains, to explore the native plants and animals that make the highest mountain on Oahu their home.

Kahuli at Poamoho

Posted: May 16, 2008

I lead a small group on the Poamoho Trail to look for Kahuli or Oahu Tree Snails.  Hawaiian tradition says that kahuli “sing” or “whistle”, but snail biologists say they are unable to make such sounds. The goal of the group was to check out the kahuli’s surroundings for a future trip to record the snails. 

Wiliwili Trees at Puu Waawaa

Posted: May 11, 2008

When I was on the Big Island last month I explored a grove of wiliwili trees at Puu Waawaa, the prominent cinder cone on the northern flank of Hualalai on the Kona-Kohala Coast. 

Lehua Alani Flowers at Amy Greenwell Garden

Posted: May 6, 2008

Whenever I’m on the Kona side of the Big Island, I love to visit the Bishop Museum’s Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanic Garden in Captain Cook to see which of the trees in their exceptional ohia lehua collection might be in bloom.