April is and a great time to highlight the flora of Hawai驶i. Like animals and people, plants adapted to Hawai驶i鈥檚 environment. Native plants are crucial to Hawai驶i鈥檚 identity and in helping Hawai驶i to thrive. The Hanalei, Hul膿驶ia and K墨lauea Point National Wildlife Refuges were each established to manage and support specific seabird and waterbird species, in efforts to counteract their population declines. Additionally, part of our mission directs us to conserve, and where appropriate, restore native plants and their habitats to allow our wildlife to thrive. We do this through tireless efforts to remove invasive plants and to cultivate and re-establish native plants within these management areas. As an example, hala provides critical nesting habitat for 驶a驶o and 驶ua驶u kani at K墨lauea Point and naupaka provides nesting and foraging habitat for n膿n膿 across all our refuges. In Hanalei, kalo and 驶ahu驶awa provide nesting material and shelter for 驶alae 驶ula and 驶alae ke驶oke驶o. And at the Hanalei Viewpoint, our newest public facility just off K奴hi艒 highway in Princeville, we are pleased to showcase over 500 native trees and plants, including the fish-stunning 鈥榓kia, the fire-tolerant 鈥榓驶ali驶i, the caper maiapilo, as well as endangered 鈥榠lima, 鈥榦hai, and others. And, as you stroll the pathway, we hope that you enjoy the plant use and identification signs along the way. Visit the Hanalei Viewpoint from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. No reservations are needed, so stop by soon!
Celebrate Native Hawaiian Plant Month at Hanalei Viewpoint
