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Native Forest Restoration on the Manoa Cliff Trail
Posted: April 13, 2009
During our hike back from Konahuanui, Laurie and Alex Loomis – volunteers with the Mānoa Cliff Trail Native Restoration Project – lead us on a short detour to see the progress of their restoration work on the Mānoa Cliff Trail.
Sadly, the native forests at the top of Puu Ohia (Tantalus) have been in decline for decades. Biological surveys from the 1800s, indicate that as many as 238 native species once grew in the Tantalus area but today only about 100 native plant species (as well as at least 60 non-native species) are left. Much of the decline is due to fast growing non-native species that have no natural competitors, predators and/or pathogens in Hawaii to keep their numbers in check. As a result, they spread unchecked throughout the landscape, block out the sun, and crowd out the native species.
Laurie Loomis leads us to the cleared restoration site at the junction of the Mānoa Cliff, Pauoa Flats, and Puu Ohia Trails where a large native kokio keokeo or white hibiscus tree (Hibiscus arnottianus) thrives along the trail. This impressive endemic hibiscus tree has multiple trunks covered with moss and a profuse canopy of leaves that extends over 25 feet across the trail.
The white flowers of kokio keokeo are distinct from other hibiscus flowers in that they have a sweet fragrance. Commercial hibiscus cultivars were bred primarily for their vibrant color and have all but lost their smell. Plant breeders are re-introducing the scent by crossing their cultivars with kokio keokeo.
Laurie and Alex Loomis lead us past happu ferns to show us an oha wai tree (Clermontia Oblongifolia). While admiring the rare tree, I saw many flower buds that were poised to open within the week. As a result, I made a mental note to return to the same spot the following weekend to see the flowers in bloom.
One week later I returned to the same spot, and just as I anticipated, several oha wai flowers had burst into bloom over the intervening week. Lobelia flowers are believed to have co-evolved with honey creeper birds with curved beaks — the curve of the flower fits the beaks of birds.
While photographing another oha wai species (Clermontia kakeana) amidst native ferns, I was surprised when the people responsible for restoring the native forest appeared before my very eyes. Serrendipitously, I had visited the restoration site on a work day!
The organizers of the Mānoa Cliff Trail Native Restoration Project — Mashuri Waite, Brandon Stone and Glen Metszler — received a permit from the State of Hawaii to restore the native forests at this site. Pictured in the photo above from left to right are: Alex Loomis, Ridge Souza, Kerwin Lum, Glen Metzler, Brandon Stone, Mashuri Waite, Sam Pirtle, and Laurie Loomis. Since 2005, over 1,200 man hours have been devoted to restore the native habitat.
The restoration work involves removing white ginger plants which have strong persistent roots. While the flowers of white ginger are beautiful and fragrant, they are extremely invasive and can take over entire forests.
Once the thick growth of ginger is removed from around this ohia tree, sunlight is able to strike a cute little oha wai (Clermontia kakeana) growing as an epiphyte in the hollow of this tree.
Much of the work involves cutting down invasive trees like these cinnamon trees. These trees seed quickly, grow to considerable height and establish a canopy of leaves that blocks out the sunlight.
Once fast growing cinnamon trees are cut down, koa seedlings receive the sunlight they need to thrive and grow into full-blown trees.
With enough sunlight, this koa tree spreads its leaves high into the air and creates a habitat for uluhe ferns and other native plants in the understory.
This oha wai species — Cyanea angustafolia – which is partially sheltered by a fallen koa tree, is being encroached upon by highly invasive kahili ginger. Despite its beautiful flowers, kahili ginger is one of the most persistent of the invasive plants destroying Hawaii’s native forests.
When the landscape is cleared of invasive plants, native species like this ‘ie’ie vine (Freycinetia arborea) thrive as they twist themselves up into the native canopy and produce fruit and seeds for future generations.
While making my way back out the trail, I reflected on my previous visit to this section of the Manoa Cliff Trail over 2 years ago and the many native plants I saw today — particularly the oha wai. The team has made great strides in restoring the native forest. In the areas right along the trail they have consistently tended, the vegetation is nearly all native. They have also cut down swaths of non-native invasive trees further back from the trail to make conditions favorable to the growth of native species. If you’d like to participate or learn more about this worthwhile project visit their website at http://manoacliff.org.
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SOURCES
Hawaiian Lobelioids, Wikipedia
Manoa Cliff Restoration Project
Native Hawaiian Plants, University of Hawaii, Department of Botany
Hi Nate,
good documentation of this effort. but what about fencing? won’t the pigs in that area simply uproot those new native plants?
pat
Yes… pigs will undoubtedly uproot the native plants. I understand that the group will be applying for grants to errect a fence (with gates at the trails) to protect the restored area from pigs.
Nate,
I’m proud to say that two of the people in your article are related to me, Alex and Laurie Loomis. It does my Ecological-friendly and volunteering heart well to see their galant and unpaid efforts to restore their environs to nature for the generations to come. If you see or write to Alex, tell him his Aunt Linda in California is very, very proud of his and his Aunt Laurie’s hard and worthwhile work.
Linda Winters, Morro Bay CA
Hi Linda… You should indeed be proud of their self-less efforts to restore the native forrest. Will let them know how proud you are. Nate