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Ohia in the Mesic Forests of Hawaii
Posted: March 21, 2008
I love to explore the mesic forests of Hawaii to photograph ohia trees covered with moss. The twisted form of ohia tree trunks and branches covered in shaggy green moss lends a unique character to the native forests of Hawaii.
Mesic ohia forests can be found on all the main Hawaiian Islands except for Kahoolawe and Niihau. One of the more pristine forests is at Kamakou Preserve on Molokai along the Hanalilolilo Trail at an elevation of 3,500 feet. In this forest, 20-foot tall ohia trees covered with moss dominate the landscape with ferns, painui, and other native plants growing in the understory.
Mesic forests typically receive about 75 inches of rain per year where trees do not suffer from lack of moisture. As a point of comparison, rainforests receive much more rainfall with over 100 inches of rain per year and dry forests receive much less with less than 40 inches per year.
Kauai has substantial mesic ohia forests at Kokee State Park. Kalepa Ridge descends from Kokee at 4,000 feet elevation and separates Kalalau Valley from Honopu Valley. In this photo taken from Kalepa Ridge feet on a cloudy rainy day, a lone ohia tree overlooks an ephemeral waterfall as clouds swirl into a small side canyon.
Mesic ohia forests thrive on Kalepa Ridge. As clouds encroach on the Na Pali Coast, a fine mist envelopes the mesic ohia forests overlooking Kalalau Valley. A native forest bird darts through the canopy foraging for food in waning light of the day.
Ohia trees burst into bloom with orange and red lehua flowers in the mesic forests overlooking Honopu Valley which is one valley over from Kalalau Valley along the Na Pali Coast of Kauai. Off in the distance nene geese fly to Honopu from Kalalau.
awesome nate
Mahalo for sharing wish I was in the forest now
Aloha kakou,
Hei