3. NATIVE PLANTS
ENDEMIC (`āpa`akuma):
Occurs naturally only in
Hawai`i. It is completely
unique to Hawai`i; found no
where else in the world.
INDIGENOUS (`ōiwi/maoli):
Occurs naturally in Hawai`i&
beyond
5. NATIVE PLANTS vs.
INTRODUCED PLANTS
CANOE PLANTS: Brought to
Hawaii by early Polynesian
settlers
NATURALIZED: Introduced to
Hawai`i since Western
contact & propagating
naturally in the wild
CULTIVATED: Introduced to
Hawai`i since Western
contact but not propagating
naturally in the wild
6. GENERAL PARTS
OF A PLANT
Tree, trunk – kumu
Plant, bush – lā`au
Branch – lālā
Root – a`a
Stem – `au
Leaf – lau
Flower - pua
Fruit - hua
Editor's Notes
Native plants played a vital role in all aspects of life related to ancient Hawaiian culture. In this course, we will study topics such as ceremony, ritural, kuahu, lei, medicine, hale, clothing, dyeing, printing, cordage, weaving, makahiki, sports & training, recreation and food in relation to plants.
Native Hawaiian plants arrived on the islands by natural means, specifically by wind, ocean currents and birds. Native plants are either indigenous (occurring naturally in Hawaii and other locations) or endemic (found only in the Hawaiian Islands). ENDEMIC – Endemic plants came to HI via wind-currents or storms, birds or ocean currents. They evolved into forms uniquely suited to their new environment. It is said that HI has roughly 1100 known native plant species. Of these, a staggering 90% are considered endemic. Many of Hawai`iʻs endemic plants have been driven to extinction due to a number of human-induced forces including deforestation, urbanization, agriculture, ranching, overharvesting, alien species and disease. INDIGENOUS – Came to HI via wind-currents or storms, birds or ocean currents and remained unchanged by their new environment. Once a species has been in Hawai'i long enough for evolution to differentiate it significantly from its original ancestor(s), it is considered endemic to Hawai'i.Native plants grown in their proper zones will be able to flourish with much less water than many exotic species, resulting in lower water usage.Once native plants are established on a site, they require less maintenance than non-native plants. Less fertilization and pruning is needed.
Many of the plants that one would normally equate with Hawai'i aren't native at all. NOTE THAT JUST BECAUSE A PLANT HAS A HAWAIIAN NAME DOES NOT MAKE IT A NATIVE OR ENDEMIC PLANT. For example, many foreigners associate the pineapple with Hawai`i. The Hawaiian name for pineapple is halakahiki. However, it is not an endemic or indigenous plant.
Canoe Plants – Brought to HI by Eastern Polynesians as early as 300 A.D. Because they arrived in canoes, these Polynesian introduced plants arereferred to as “canoe plants.” They were brought over in canoes to their new environment because of their usefulness and hardiness.
Including native plants in the landscape can strengthen our unique identity. Learning about native Hawaiian plants and their uses canincrease cultural understanding and foster an appreciation for Hawai`i’s history and culture.
