Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 1, 1 Ianuali 1987 — Rare Native Plants at Hawaiian Ecosystems' [ARTICLE]

Rare Native Plants at Hawaiian Ecosystems'

"Hawaiian Ecosystems: A Living Heritage" focuses on unique and very rare native Hawaiian plants not usually seen by humans. It is a new exhibition at Bishop Museum by Botanist Robert Gustafson of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County who has made the study of this unique living heritage of Hawaii his special interest since the early 1970s. The exhibit features striking and unique historical specimens from Bishop Museum's scientific collections, including actual plants collected on the voyages of Captain James Cook to Hawaii in 1779. It is augmented by more than 100 of Gustafson's vivid color photographs pursued by four-wheel drive vehicles, long, hard hikes or by helicopter. Gustafson shot the very special natural history of Hawaii with camera and a botanist's zeal. Among the most unusual plants featured in the exhibit is the showy, hibiscus-like "Kokia eookei," described by Gustafson as "perhaps one of the rarest plants in Hawaii in the natural environment."This small tree with red hibiscus-like flowers no longer exists in its original habitat on the island of Molokai. It survives with difficulty in cultivation. The extremely showy blossoms of the "Lohelia kauaensis" are featured in a poster of the exhibit. Few humans have seen this plant whieh may grow up to four feet high; it is a bog plant and most bogs are inaccessible to people. Gustafson, a native Californian, received his bachelor's degree in biology from Loyola University in Los Angeles and a master's degree in botany from UCLA. In 1962 he began working for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County botany department and is currently its collections manager. Bishop Museum is open Monday through Saturday and the first Sunday of the month from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $4.75 for adults, $2.50 for children 6-17. Those under six are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Admission is free on Family Day whieh is usually the first Sunday of the month.