Kaua'i - Hawaii - page 1118

Notable exotic trees include ironwood, a non-native conifer with drooping needles,
which acts as a natural windbreak and prevents erosion from beaches; majestic banyan
trees, which have a canopy of hanging aerial roots with trunks large enough to swallow
small children; and towering monkeypods, a common shade tree that has dark glossy
green leaves, powder-puff pink flowers and longish seed pods.
Going Native
Perhaps the most bewitching of native Hawaiian trees is the koa, growing over 50ft high
and nowadays found only at higher elevations. This rich hardwood has been used to
make canoes, surfboards and even ukuleles. Endemic wiliwili is a lightweight wood also
popular for making surfboards and canoes. Hawaii was once rich in fragrant ʻiliahi ( san-
dalwood) forests, but these were almost entirely sold off to foreign traders in the 19th
century.
The widespread and versatile ohia is one of the first plants to colonize lava flows. Its
distinctive tufted flowers (lehua), consisting of petalless groups of red, orange, yellow,
pink and white stamens, are considered sacred to Pele, goddess of fire and volcanoes.
Native forests of ohia and hapuʻu (tree ferns) are vital, endangered habitats. Brought by
early Polynesian settlers, the kukui (candlenut tree) has light silver-tinged foliage that
stands out brightly in the forest; the oily nuts from Hawaii's state tree can be burned like
candles and are used for making lei and lotions.
Flowering native coastal plants include pohuehue (beach morning-glory), with its
glossy green leaves and pink flowers, found just above the wrack line; beach naupaka, a
shrub with oval green leaves and small pinkish-white, five-petaled flowers that look as if
they've been torn in half (by a broken-hearted lover, according to Hawaiian legend); and
the low-growing ʻilima, its delicate yellow-orange blossoms strung into lei.
Hawaii's Parks & Preserves
Hawaii has two national parks: Haleakalā National Park on Maui and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
National Park on the Big Island ( www.nps.gov/state/HI/ ) . Both have volcanoes as center-
pieces, contain an astonishing range of environments and provide some of the best hiking
in the islands. A Unesco World Heritage Site since 1987, the latter welcomes 1.35 milli-
on visitors a year, making it Hawaii's most popular attraction.
In addition, the islands have five national historical parks, sites and memorials, most
helping to preserve Hawaiian culture. Three are on the Big Island, most popularly
Puʻuhonua o Honaunau (Place of Refuge) National Historical Park. On Molokaʻi,
Kalaupapa National Historical Park is a unique living-history interpretive site. Oʻahu