Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 8, 1 ʻAukake 2022 — Hāhā and Kauna' oa [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hāhā and Kauna' oa

<NĀ MEAKANU 'ĀPA'AKUMA O HAWAI'I NEI EN DEM IC PLANTS OF HAWAI'I

By Bobby Camara "He mea laha 'ole." (Not spread everywhere. A thing rare.) 'Ōlelo No'eau 815

Collectively, hāhā (Cyanea gibsonii) are members of the Lobelioid family, mind-bogglingly diverse, with at least 52 endemic species in Hawai'i nei. We don't know of specific names for eaeh species, many of whieh are extremely endangered, threatened, or rare, and often grow naturally in very particular locations. Though protected and managed, C. gibsonii is endemic to, and lives precariously on, Lāna'i. They number about 20 mature and 50 immature plants, and live under siege by deer, rats, and invasive plants like kāhili ginger. Some endemic honeycreepers with curved beaks that fit into curved flowers, feed on nectar while pollinating the blooms. Our endemic dodder, a parasitic vine, is kauna'oa (Cuscuta sandwichiana). With its tiny pua, the official plant symbol of Lāna'i often grows entwined with pōhuehue, beach morning glory. Both go through cycles of growth, decline, and death, but they endure and persist. ■

Darkest purple, nearly black buds and flowers of hōhō ( Cyanea gibsonii). If o coreful observer, moture reddish fruits will cotch your eye. - Pbotos: Hank Oppenheimer, Plont Extinction Prevention Program

Tiny puo kouno'oo ond kouno'oo with pōhuehue. - Photos: Forest & Kim Starr (left), Mahina C. (right)