Plant List
The volcanic island of Hawai‘i is thought to be about 700,000 years old. Over the millennia, parts of the island cooled, allowing the slow establishment of plants that arrived as seeds via wind, sea, and birds. Approximately 270 different species of plants successfully colonized the various islands of Hawai‘i. By the time the first Polynesians migrated here, around 500 AD, those original species had evolved into 1,029 species. These plants are “native plants,” meaning those that were here before human contact.
The Polynesians brought with them their cultivated plants that they needed for food and medicine. After the arrival of Captain James Cook in 1778 and the ensuing European migration, a massive number of “introduced” plants became commonplace. As the population increased and land-use practices incorporated housing, farming, and ranching, habitats that supported native Hawaiian plants began to diminish. Today, the State of Hawai ‘i has the largest proportion of endemic plants in the world for its land area and is widely known as the endangered species capital of the world, with over 90% of the native species federally listed as threatened with extinction.
There is no official record of what plants historically grew in the Pelekane Bay Watershed. The Hawaiians had no written language and the environment has been changed so drastically by human contact that we are left only to surmise. But it is likely that a well established, highly diverse forest covered the land from summit to sea. With the watershed now so eroded, depleted, and exposed, we cannot consider replanting species that require consistent and abundant rainfall and protection from the sun and wind. So, our restoration plant list includes native varieties that are drought, wind, and sun tolerant and is based on recommendations from the State Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW).
Our restoration crew is responsible for gathering and propagating all of the plants needed for the project. We have restricted our selection of plants to only Hawai‘i Island species and varieties; therefore, we are not collecting propagation material from any other island. Surprisingly, we are also gathering viable seeds and cuttings onsite, from existing trees and shrubs.
The following selection of plants serves as a “wish list” rather than an actual planting plan. This list will allow us to recreate a diverse, multi-level plant community. In an environment where only the hardy survive, we will be finding out just how tenacious these plants are.
Dodonaea viscosa (‘A‘ali‘i)
Bobea timonioides (‘Ahakea)
Nothocestrum breviflorum** (‘Aiea)
Wikstroemia plucherrima (‘Akia)
Wikstroemia sanwicensis (‘Akia)
Chamaesyce multiformis (‘Akoko)
Pouteria sandwicensis (Ala‘a)
Psydrax odoratum (Alahe‘e)
Chenopodium oahuense (‘Aweoweo)
Canavalia hawaiiensis (‘Awikiwiki)
Pleomele hawaiiensis (Halapepe)
Rauvolfia sandwicensis (Hao)
Pittosporum hawaiiense (Ho‘awa)
Cocculous trilobus (Huehue)
Santalum paniculatum (‘Iliahi)
Sida fallax (‘Ilima)
Ipomoea littoralis (Koali kahakai)
Ipomoea indica (Koali‘awa)
Bidens hawaiensis (Koko‘olau)
Myrsine lanaiensis (Kolea)
Diospyros sandwicensis (Lama)
Pipturus albidus (Mamaki)
Sophora chrysolphylla (Mamane)
Hibiscus brackenridgei** (Ma‘o hau hele)
Xylosma hawaiiense (Maua)
Myoporum sandwicense (Naio)
Scaevola sericea (Naupaka kahakai)
Lipocheata succulenta (Nehe)
Nestegis sandwicensis (Olopua)
Jacquemontia ovalifolia (Pa‘u o hi‘iaka)
Argemone glauca (Pua kala)
Leptecophylla tameiameiae (Pukiawe)
Osteomeles anthyllydifolia (‘Ulei)
Erythrina sandwicensis (Wiliwili)
Achyranthes mutica**
Eragrostis grandis
Eragrostis variabilis
Hedyotis littoralis
Hibiscadelphus hualaiensis**
Schiedea globosa
**Indicates plants Federally listed as "Threatened & Endangered" (T&E)
