Native Hawaiian plants – Their Proliferation and Preservation
As the world’s most isolated island chain, Hawaii is home to a unique and stunning variety of native plants found only on the archipelago’s diverse landscape and rich soil. Hawaii’s geological separation has been both a blessing and a curse, as thousands of Hawaiian plants species have existed over millennia in a distinct biological environment, allowing them to thrive without the same environmental threats as in other more populated places. However, as settlers arrived on the island, bringing with them non-native plant and animal species, the delicate ecosystem faced new challenges, with native habitats shrinking and some species going extinct.
It’s an ongoing collaborative effort to preserve native plants, with much of the work on the Big Island done by the park service within the boundaries of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Much of their conservation efforts involve managing the intersection of animal species (native, like the Nene goose, and non-native, like mongoose and wild pigs) and plant species – for more info, see our recent blog about wildlife on the Big Island.
When venturing onto the trails within the park, you’ll learn about these incredible plants and see them up close, with signs providing details about each plant’s significance and qualities.
A Guide to the Native Hawaiian Plants Nearby
One of the Hawaiian plants you’ll likely see first is the Ohi’a Lehua, which is so common on the Big Island that it is the island’s trademark flower (each of the eight main islands has a designated flower). Look for it on any of the trails near the Kilauea caldera, including the Kilauea Iki Trail, one of our favorite hikes. And it’s often used for making leis, so if you take our lei-making class at sister property Volcano Village Lodge, it may be part of your one-of-a-kind lei.
Another plant flower popular in leis is the Uki, also known as the Hawaiian Lily. Like other plants in the park, it excels in volcanic soil, which is very porous and allows roots to stretch deep. You’ll easily spot its long green leaves capped off by striking white flowers and its fruits, which look like blueberries.
Pilo, a relative of the beloved coffee plant, is a remarkably versatile plant and thrives anywhere from near sea level up to 7,400 feet. When you see it alongside the trail, don’t be surprised if you also catch sight of an ‘Oma’o (Hawaiian thrush) nearby, which savors the Pilo berries so much that they chase away other birds.
The ‘Oha Wai, or ‘Oha for short, is one of the rarer native plant species on the Big Island, with its unmissable purple flower. The curved nature of its flower perfectly fits the shape of the bill of the Honeycreeper, a Hawaiian bird species found nowhere else in the world. This vital and symbiotic relationship between native plants and birds is one of the many reasons behind successful efforts to prevent their extinction.
Two more can’t-miss endemic species in and around the park are the Hapu’u fern, which grows to a massive 30+ feet height, and the Mauna Loa Silversword found on the mid-to-high elevation slopes of Mauna Loa. The Silversword is particularly unique, as its lifespan extends over decades, but only flowers once at the very end, shooting up triumphant flowers several feet high before dying.
Endless Trails and Extraordinary Plant Life Right At Your Doorstep
The location of our Hawaii Big Island Bed & Breakfast has an extensive natural habitat and formal gardens created by the master landscape architects Kanichi & Fujino Nakamoto — who also landscaped Liliuokalani Gardens in Hilo — and you can enjoy them right from your room. Surrounding the property are many native plants and trees, and when venturing into the national park, trails like Kilauea Iki (just 3 miles away from Volcano Village) extend from the rainforest’s depths and across lava flows. Others, like Ka’u Desert Trail and Mauna Iki Trail, traverse the vast stretches of volcanic topography where native plant species cover the land and flourish in the mineral-rich soil.
Check out the park’s trail map, bring your camera, and head out for a day of exploration and education – you’ll see and learn about plants that are as spectacular as the volcanoes whose soil sustains them.
Book your stay at our Boutique Hotel in Volcano, HI, where the captivating and beautiful native Hawaiian plants await you!