Plants and Animals of Ka`ena Point

Yellow Faced Bees

Hylaeus longiceps

These native bees are predated by invasive mammals such as rats and mice, which also damage the plants such as `ohai which the bees polinate. Photo: Karl Magnacca

`ohai

Sesbania tomentosa

The `ohai at Ka`ena are among the last survivors of a plant once commonly found along the Wai`anae and Mokule`ia coastlines. The salmon colored flowers of the `ohai bloom among low lying, silvergreen leaflets.

Hawaiian Monk Seal

Monachus schauislandi

Brought back from the brink of extinction by the protected breeding grounds in the far Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, monk seal populations have risen high enough that some have been visiting even the crowded shores of O`ahu.

naupaka kahakai

Scaevola sericea

The beach naupaka is a common shoreline plant in Hawai`i. It shelters sand from blowing wind and its roots hold dunes against erosion. The leaves and branches it sheds collect on the dunes and help retain moisture and build soil. Naupaka is easily damaged by off-road vehicles and even by careless hikers and cyclists.

`ilima papa

Sida falax

Like most plants at Ka`ena, the `ilima papa grows close to the ground, where it is less exposed to the wind and blowing sand. Perhaps the name, papa ("flat"), evokes its flattened growth form. The orange-yellow blossoms of `ilima are the traditional symbol of O`ahu, and a challenging and delicate material for lei making.

moli

Diomedia immutabilis

During the proper season, usually middle to late fall, pairs of Laysan albatross begin their elaborate mating rituals at Ka`ena Point. These large, graceful seabirds nest in the open among the native shrubs; vulnerable to pests such as mongoose, feral cats, and dogs.

naio

Myoporum sandwicense

The dark green, rounded naio shrub stands out against the boulder slopes of Ka`ena. Naio became important in the 1800's when merchants tried to substitute its wood for a dwindling supply of Hawaiian sandalwood. In recent years at Ka`ena, naio have reappeared while the thickets of introduced koa haole have died back.

pa`u-o-Hi`iaka

Jacquemontia ovalifolia

Stories tell how Pele, the volcano goddess, left her baby sister Hi`iaka asleep on the beach while she went fishing. When Pele returned, she found Hi`iaka gently wrapped in a vine with pale blue, bell-shaped flowers, draping over her and protecting her from the scorching sun. This is the origin of pa`u-o-Hi`iaka, "the skirt of Hi`iaka."

ma`o (Hawaiian cotton)

Gossypium tomentosum

The ma`o was once very common on the shores of O`ahu, but its habitat has been mostly displaced by weeds and coastal development. Ma`o, meaning "green," is the color of a bright dye that Hawaiians extracted from the plant. Its delicate, bright yellow flowers grace portions of the boulder slopes at Ka`ena.

Ka`ena `akoko

Chamaesyce celastroides var. kaenana

With the winter rains, the Ka`ena `akoko sends out its pale green leaves. During the dry summer, it drops all of its foilage. This endangered plant is found only on boulder slopes in the Ka`ena area, and is easily damaged by trampling.

hinahina

Heliotropium anomulum

Hinahina means "silvery" and refers to the shiny hairs that cover the leaves and reflect the intense sunlight of the coastal habitat. The white flowers that spring from its tightly-hworled succulent leaves send a delicate fragrance on the ocean breeze.

pohinahina

Vitex rotundifolia

The pohinahina is one of the first plants to colonize coastal dunes, keeping the sand from blowing away. This hardy shrub bears handsome purple blossoms that are a favorite of lei makers and growers of Hawaiian plants.

nehe

Lipochaeta integrifolia

The nehe grows along the coast of most of the Hawaiian Islands. Its light-colored succulent leaves frame bright yellow flowers that resemble minature daisies. Low growing and hardy, the nehe often favors wave-tossed boulder beaches. It is no surprise that the word "nehe" also describes the endless rumbling of the sea.