The dryland forest and shrubland in Hawaii exists between the elevations of 15 - 2000 meters and is generally on the leeward sides of all the main islands. All of the natural communities of Kaho`olawe and Lana`i fall into this classification. Also known as the dry lowland communities, this area of Hawaii has been tremendously changed since the days before human settlement. Between this elevation today you will find all the cities, roads, homes, schools, agriculture, ranching, and in general, most of civilization. As a result very few undisturbed lowland natural communities exist today, its native plant species pushed to the brink of nonexistance. Being pushed to the point of nonexistance is no fun and the aim here is the bring the fun back into the lowlands.

The focus of today's presentation is the lowland dry communities. In the ewa plains on O`ahu, in areas like Kapolei, Waikele, Mililani, you see the landscape changing overnight. Once long ago a prestine natural community, this area has given way to sugar cane and now residential and urban development. What grew here long ago? Do those plants still exist? What must this landscape have looked like before anyone settled here?

Ko`oko`olau - Bidens torta (end) Propagation: Grown easily from seeds Lighting: Partial to full sun Watering: Light, twice a week Care: Seedlings should be kept in pots until at least 6 inches tall. Small plants are suseptible to slugs and birds. This ko`oko`olau was found on the slopes of the Wai`anae mountains. Bidens torta is uniquely distinguished from other bidens by the curly-que seeds. Related to the Spanish needle (Bidens pilosa), the native ko`oko`olau differs in that the seeds do not cling to you on contact.

`Ilima - Sida fallax (ind) Propagation: Grown easily from seeds Lighting: Full sun Watering: Light, twice a week Care: `Ilima requires little special care. Plant in well drained soil and watch it grow. Found in the coastal lowlands and in dry leeward mountain slopes, `ilima and its natural habitat is quickly disappering. This `ilima is from the Ka`ena Point area where it is fairly abundant. `Ilima occurs in a variety of forms from low growing prostrate vines to upright shrubs.

Ma`o - Gossypium tomentosum (end) Propagation: Scrape or soak seeds Lighting: Full sun Watering: Light, twice a week Care: Ma`o is easily cultivated. Needs occasional pruning. Ma`o can still be found in protected coastal areas like Ka`ena Point Natural Area Reserve. This native cotton is well adapted to the hot coastal regions and will grow nicely in any leeward home garden.

`A`ali`i - Dodonea viscosa (ind) Propagation: Soak seeds in hot water for 24 hrs Lighting: Full sun Watering: Light, twice a week Care: `A`ali`i is easily cultivated and depending on variety is either a shrub or small tree. Needs occasional pruning. `A`ali`i is a beautiful plant that can be used as a hedge or ornamental. It's destinctive seed capsule, depending on each plant, can vary in color from green to scarlet red.

Ma`o hau hele - Hibiscus brackenridgei (end) Propagation: Soak seeds in hot water for 24 hours Lighting: Partial to full sun Watering: Light, twice a week Care: Seedlings should be kept in pots until at least 6 inches tall. Ma`o hau hele is well suit to the dry lee areas of the islands. This particular photo was taken on Kaho`olawe where several Ma`o hau hele have been planted and have adapted quite nicely. This variety produces hundreds of seeds in a season, though few take hold on the Kaho`olawe hardpan.

`Aheahea - Chenopodium oahuense (end) Propagation: Grown easily from seeds Lighting: Partial to full sun Watering: Light, twice a week Care: Seedlings should be kept in pots until at least 6 inches tall. Small plants are suseptible to slugs and birds. `Aheahea can be found throughout the dry lowland. This particular plant was found on the slopes of the Wai`anae Mountains near Ka`ena Point. `Aheahea produces hundreds of seeds but in present day Hawaii there are many deterants that prevent seedlings from maturing. In a protected environment, seeds germinate with high probability.

Ho`awa - Pittosporum glabrum (end) Propagation: Grown easily from seeds Lighting: Full sun to partial sun Watering: Moderate, every other day Care: Ho`awa seeds germinate within a month. Seedlings will grow slowly so be patient Ho`awa can be found on all the major Hawaiian islands. This photo was taken on a trail in the Hau`ula area, though ho`awa can be found in the Wai`anea mountains as well as the Ko`olau range. Each seed pod contains about 20-30 seeds which germinate quite easily. Small plants sometimes need to be sprayed with Safer soap to control scale infestation.

Achyranthes splendens (end) Propagation: Grown easily from seeds Lighting: Full sun Watering: Light, twice a week Care: Achyranthes requires little special care. Grow in pots until 4 inches tall and then plant out. On O`ahu, Achyranthes splendens is confined to a small area of coralline plains in the Campbell Industrial Park and near Ka`ena Point. This plant was probably widespread across O`ahu. It produces hundreds of seeds and is easily propagated.

Pua kala - Argemone glauca (end) Propagation: Grown easily from seeds Lighting: Full sun Watering: Light, twice a week Care: Best planting success came from tossing seeds in an area and forgeting about them. Found on all the main islands except Kaua`i, Pua kala is also known as prickly poppy. Here pua kala clings on to a mound on the hardpan of Kaho`olawe inspite of the dry and windswept conditions it is still able to survive here.

Wiliwili - Erythrina sandwicensis (end) Propagation: Grown easily from seeds Lighting: Full sun Watering: Light, twice a week Care: Once seedling is established plant out in garden Wiliwili would be an abundant tree found in the dryland forest of old Hawai`i. Seeing wiliwili in Hawai`i today is like seeing a giant redwood tree in California. It is a link to the not too distant past. In Hawai`i, wiliwili can be found in undeveloped areas, like Ka`ena Point on `Oahu, Kanaio on Maui and on Kaho`olawe. This photo is of a wiliwili flower from a mature tree in Kanaio, on the island of Maui.

Reference Material

• Nagata, Kenneth M. 1992. How to Plant a Native Hawaiian Garden. State of Hawaii. Office of Environmental Quality Control
  
  
• Gon, Sam III & Chun, Gail, et.al. 1992. Biological Database & Reconnaissance Survey of Kaho`olawe Island Including Rare Plants, Animals and Natural Communities. Kaho`olawe Island Conveyance Commission, Consultant Report No. 6, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai`i
  
  
• Bornhorst, Heidi L. & Rauch, Fred D. 1994. Native Hawaiian Plants for Landscaping, Conservation, and Reforestation. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. University of Hawai`i.

Return to Kaho`olawe Home Page

---

©Burt Lum, 1996