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Taro Patches at Waikele Stream

Posted: July 11, 2008

I explored the trails along Waikele Stream and the taro patches at Waipahu Cultural Garden Park to photograph the wildlife that live in these wetlands.  Waikele Stream is a source of freshwater for Pouhala Marsh and these taro patches are just half-a-mile upriver from the marsh.

In the olden days, Pouhala Marsh was an important wetland with productive fishponds and taro patches.  The lo’i kalo (taro patches) were called Kapalaha by the Hawaiians and were an important food source.  If Kapalaha existed today, it would likely be similar to the taro patches at Waipahu Cultural Garden Park which is next to Hawaii’s Plantation Village and is only half-a-mile upstream from Pouhala.  

The lo’i kalo (taro patches) at Waipahu Cultural Garden Park are a man-made habitat for waterbirds, dragonflies and other creatures.  Water is diverted from Waikele Stream and flows from one taro patch to another before the water is returned to the stream. Waikele Stream derives much of its water from springs just upstream from the taro patches and is a significant source of freshwater entering Pearl Harbor. 

Hawaiian Stilts or ae’o make their home in the wetlands formed by these taro patches.  Since farmers constantly tend to the taro, the ae’o in these wetlands are more tolerant to the presence of people.  As a result, you can get much closer to these elusive waterbirds  in these taro patches than you can in wild. 

Ae’o love to wade in the cool clear waters of the taro patches.  Ae’o (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni) are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and are an endangered species with less than 1,500 left in the wild. 

The Pinao or Giant Hawaiian Dragonfly (Anax Strenuus) is a common sight in these wetlands.  These dragonflies are endemic to Hawaii and have wingspans up to 6 inches across making them the largest dragonflies in the United States.  The coloration of males and females are different.  Males have blue abdomens while females have green abdomens.   

This pair of Giant Hawaiian Dragonflies complete their mating by laying eggs in an irrigation ditch.  The blue male is attached to the green female as she curls and lowers her abdomen into the water to lay eggs. 

The Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea), which is native to South America, is also common in these wetlands.  They are 2-3 inches long and are purple in color.  Like other dragonflies, the roseate skimmer darts over the water as it hunts for mosquitoes, midges, flies, and other insects.  
 

The Scarlet Skimmer (Crocothemis servilia), which is native to Japan, is an eye-catching sight in these taro patches.  These brilliant red dragonflies are 2-3 inches long and are fierce predators.  Like other dragonflies, the scarlet skimmer spreads its 4 wings out when it lands to rest. 

Pinao’ula or red damselflies about 1 inch long also live in these wetlands.  These damselfies (Megalagrion spp.) are endemic to Hawaii and are smaller and daintier than dragonflies.  Damselfies also differ from dragonflies in that they fold their 4 wings back when they land to rest. 

Non-native cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) forage in the taro patches at Waipahu Cultural Gardens Park.  These taro patches are just half-a-mile upstream from Pouhala Marsh and are likely to be what the historic taro patches of Kapalaha would be like if they existed at Pouhala today. 

– 

SOURCES

Biodiversity of Freshwater and Estuarine Communities in Lower Pearl Harbor with Observations on Introduced Species, Final Report Repaired for the US Navy by the Hawaii Biological Survey, Bishop Musuem Technical Report No. 16, February 2000

Ron Englund, Biological Assessment and the Effects of Water Withdrawals on Waikele Stream, Oahu Aquatic Biota, Contribution No. 1998-011 to the Hawaii Biological Survey, Hawaii Biological Survey, Bishop Museum, June 1998

Katina Dove Henderson, Final Waikele Stream Bioassessment, Environmental Planning Office, Hawaii State Department of Health, December 2003

Non Avian Wildlife in the Air of Hawaii

State of Hawaii, Fact Sheet on Terrestrial Invertebrates, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Department of Land and Natural Resources

Elspeth Sterling and Catherine Summers, Sites of Oahu, Pg. 29, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1978