NHPS Projects
Hibiscus Brackenridgei Exclosure
This long running NHPS project remains an important site for the conservation of our critically endangered State Flower. The priority weeds remain koa haole, Guinea grass, and glycine. Fire remains the biggest threat. We hope our efforts to control weeds and reduce the fuel load will be enough to protect the site should the worst happen.
In 2017, while monitoring the Schiedea salicaria within and (mostly) outside the exclosure seed collections were made. These were sent to Lyon Arboretum’s Seed Conservation Laboratory on O`ahu as a safety net.
The Plant Extinction Prevention Program staff have been managing the project with over sight by Hank Oppenheimer.
Mahalo to Duane Ting and Flyin’ Hawaiian Zipline for continued access and logistical support.
Kanahā Pond
NHPS has been working at native plant restoration in the Kanahā Pond Wildlife Refuge since 1990 when President Eda Kinnear asked members to help restore native vegetation to improve the quality of the bird habitat around the Pond.
The area was infested with alien weeds such as California Bull Rush and Pluchea indica which were choking out nesting habitat. Earlier and ongoing work by Society members at Kanaha has resulted in the apparently successful naturalization of at least Ko’oloa-‘ula (Abutilon menziesii), Scaevola coriacea, Lepidium bidentatum var. o-waihiense, and ‘Ohai (Sesbania tomentosa).
We meet every 1st and 3rd Thursday morning of the month. If you would like to attend a service trip to Kanahā Pond or Haiku School, please contact Becky Lau at (808) 575-2369 or (808) 205-7348
Awikiwiki Exclosure
There had been very effective weed control in the previous years, and the `awikiwiki responded positively, with new recruitment of seedlings from a long-dormant seed bank. The weeds are as close to eradicated as possible, given the continual dispersal by wind from areas outside, but the ongoing drought seems to have made this “invasion” much less serious. Of course, the site will need to be visited soon to ensure the fence is still effective, control what few weeds are expected, and to monitor the plants inside. Seeds have been collected from this population and are in storage at the Lyon Arboretum Seed Storage Laboratory on O`ahu as a back-up “safety net”. Overall this is a success story, and allows NHPS to focus on other Projects.
Mahalo to Ulupalakua Ranch for allowing access over almost four decades.
Haʻikū Elementary School
This project began as a native garden project in the school courtyard by Becky Lau, who worked at the school. Her work eventually expanded into the parking lot and the fence facing Pauwela Road. There are up to 30 different native Hawaiian plants at the school. Thank you to the Maui Nui Botanical Garden for donating many of these keiki plants.
Join us on Mondays from 3:30-5:30PM and help show future generations the beauty of native Hawaiian plants.
Kahului Library
The new head librarian in Kahului is Colleen Galvin. She has asked NHPS members to continue to maintain the library’s native Hawaiian plant garden. The main native plant survivor is a lovely Naio tree, the focal point in the courtyard. Debbie, the Kahului library custodian, took good care of the garden during the library renovations. She will continue to assist NHPS. When we finish weeding, the garden needs a new ‘plant map’, some new plants and hopefully some new plant name tags! Plants we hope to bring back include palapalai, kupukupu, ʻukiʻuki and moa.
