The fern is symbolic of everlasting youth. Many indigenous people believe that the fern represents new life and new beginnings. In Japan, ferns exemplify family and hope for the future. From the Victorian era, the fern embodied trustworthiness and humility. Often called Living Lace, there are approximately 200 species of ferns in Hawai’i. 65% of… Read more »
Upon arrival to Hawai’i, it is easy to feel that our island chain is the most remote archipelago in the world. It takes a long time to fly here from anywhere. Along with this distinguishing fact of geographic isolation, many wonder, how was it possible for the miracle of life to first find its way… Read more »
One of the first things people think about when they hear about Hawai’i is swaying coconut palms and beautiful beaches. It is hard to imagine that at one time, there were no coconut palm trees on the Hawaiian islands at all! When the Polynesian migrants first arrived, there was only one species of native palm… Read more »
Haleakalā – The House of the Sun The mountain, the dormant volcano, and the crater have captivated human beings since they first gazed upon her beauty! Mark Twain called sunrise from the summit “the sublimest spectacle I ever witnessed.” Jack London wrote, “Haleakalā has a message of beauty and wonder for the soul that… Read more »
The Hawaiian Islands have many visitors who come every year. Some use their wings to fly here while others swim. The North Pacific Humpback Whales have one of the longest annual migrations of any animal, swimming between the food-rich Alaskan waters and the warmer breeding waters of Hawai’i. The Pacific Golden Plover also makes this… Read more »
Many years ago, I remember hearing people talk about one tropical fruit they experienced when visiting Hawai’i. That fruit was the guava. People found these remarkable fruits everywhere – on hiking trails, along roads, in pastures, and throughout all the state and national parks. Some guava were small, sweet, and red, while others were yellow… Read more »
Endemic Hawaiian plants and flowers will typically thrive in their native environments. You do not have to go deep into the Hawaiian rainforests or to the edge of remote cliff faces finding exotic native flora in Hawai’i. Many beautiful flowering plants live along the beach where you go every day. They flourish in the sand,… Read more »
Waikamoi Preserve is one of Maui’s truly hidden treasures, a sub-alpine region that has an ecological makeup unlike any other place in the world. Avid hikers love to explore unique plants and landscapes wherever they venture, so today, we are going to learn more about the myriad of unusual plants you will see in the… Read more »
If you have ever hiked in Maui you may know it has many hiking trails of varied terrain. One can hike from sea level to as high as 10,000 feet. Maui visitors that love to hike trade off their days. They spend one day sea-faring or doing ocean activities and the next day hiking. It… Read more »
A forest is a vast inter-connected ecosystem, much more than just the trees. It’s a complex world filled with diverse civilizations of microscopic creatures all the way up to the towering trees. And it includes all the animal and bird life living symbiotically with the trees and with all the extraordinary life that exists under… Read more »
