HINHP FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) of the Hawai'i Natural Heritage Program

Q: Does Hawaii have tropical rain forest?
A: Absolutely. In fact, Hawaii is the only state with bona fide tropical rain forest.

Q: How much Hawaiian rain forest is left?
A: Although over half of the original native rain forest has been lost or replaced by weeds, planted landscapes, or development, a great deal remains. Perhaps 3/4 of a million acres of rain forest is left, especially above 2500 feet elevation, but nearly all of these acres are threatened by continued development, invading weeds, and destructive animals and pests.

Q: Rain forest is the only major ecosystem in Hawaii, right?
A: There are about 150 distinct ecosystem types in the Hawaiian Islands. These ecosystems are so distinctive that the Hawaiian Islands constitute a unique global bioregion. These ecosystems range from tropical dry forest, to subalpine grasslands, snowy alpine deserts, to brackish anchialine pools, subterranean lava tube systems with eyeless creatures, to windswept coastal dunes. The Hawaiian ecological showcase is impressive indeed!

Q: How much of Hawaii's ecosystems have been lost?
A: Some native ecosystem types have been very hard hit. For example, over 90% of Hawaiian lowland dry forests have been lost to fire, development, agriculture, or weed invasions. Other systems have been relatively little affected (alpine deserts on the summit of Mauna Loa, for example are very much as they were before humans). All told, perhaps half of the 150 ecosystem types are considered in trouble, imperilled by human-related changes in the landscape. Most of the loss has occurred along the coasts and in the lowlands, where the majority of human habitation exists today.

Q: I've heard that Hawaii is the extinction capital of the US. Just how many endangered plants are there in Hawaii?
A: At the latest count just over 200 different taxa (species, subspecies, or varieties) of Hawaiian plants are on the US endangered species list. These include well-known plants such as silverswords, and the ma'o hauhele (Hawaii's state flower, a yellow hibiscus), as well as more obscure, but fascinating and beautiful plants such as the Kanehoa mint, tree violets, and the dwarf naupaka.

Q: I want to grow native Hawaiian plants in my yard. Where can I get some and do I have to worry about breaking any laws?
A: There are quite a few beautiful Hawaiian native plants that would thrive in your yard, whether you live in rainy Manoa Valley or dry Kuli'ou'ou. The Lyon Arboretum plant sale almost always includes native plants, as does the Foster Garden plant sale. Many nurseries stock the hardier native plants, such as coastal akia, 'ohi'a saplings, 'ilima, etc. Some of these nurseries have quite a variety. Bear in mind, though, that several plants touted as "native," such as royal 'ilima, are actually introduced plants that have become popular for lei-making. Another thing to avoid is pulling up native plants from the wild, or growing species that are rare or endangered. These require permits from government agencies to ensure that they weren't harvested from wild populations on the brink of extinction. Leave the growing of rare native plants to specialists, who are working hard to find the best growing conditions and methods for propagation, so that they can be replanted in the wild, and eventually available for our yards.

Q: Where are the endangered birds, and how do I see some of them?
A: Hawaii's endangered birds are generally upland birds, because many of them are susceptible to diseases such as bird malaria, which are spread by mosquitos at lower elevations. Many of Hawaii's rarest birds are also dependent on native forest ecosystems, which are today largely restricted to elevations above 2000 feet. Much of the remaining rare bird habitat is remote and trackless, but there are some accesible sites: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawai'i; Haleakala National Park and The Nature Conservancy's Waikamoi Preserve on Maui; Koke'e State Park on Kaua'i. At these places you might see such birds as the Nene goose, Hawaiian hawk, Crested Honeycreeper, or other very rare birds.

Q: How can I help save the cattle egrets?
A: Actually, birds such as cattle egrets, doves, mynah birds, and rice birds (and just about all of the birds that you see in town or lowlands) are introduced birds, not native to Hawai'i. There are laws generally protecting these birds, but most conservationists concentrate on saving Hawaii's rare native birds, such as the nene, because if we lose them here, there are no replacements from elsewhere in the world. They would be gone forever, to our great loss.

Q: How many monk seals are left in Hawaii?
A: The Hawaiian Monk Seal (Monachus schauinslandi) is an endangered species of marine mammal that is endemic (restricted in distribution) to the Hawaiian Islands. Its Hawaiian name, 'ilio holo i ka uaua, refers to its dog-like appearence. They were hunted nearly to extinction, but thanks to laws prohibiting hunting of monk seals, and a wildlife refuge established in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (a series of atolls, shoals, and small islands to the northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands) there are well over 1250 monk seals today. They seem to be recovering, and we see a few of them each year visiting beaches on Kaua'i, O'ahu, Maui, and other islands, where they were once abundant.

Q: I thought I saw a bat! Is that possible?
A: The Hawaiian bat, 'ope'ape'a, is our only truly terrestrial native mammal. The only other native mammal you might see on land in Hawai'i is the monk seal, but most people would count it as a marine creature. 'Ope'ape'a are most common on the islands of Hawai'i and Kaua'i, but are also occasionally seen on other islands. Look for a small, fast-flying, acrobatic bat, swooping and looping erratically in the air just after sunset. But don't be confused by the large "black witch moth" which is about the same size, and flies in a very erratic manner.

Q: I thought I saw a hummingbird! Is that possible?
A: Hawai'i has no hummingbirds, native or introduced. Many people mistake the hummingbird moth (an introduced insect that enjoys nectar from flowers in peoples' yards) for a real hummingbird. There's even what looks like a fan-shaped tail on this orange and brown insect, and the hovering and flower visiting habits are eerily hummingbird-like. Hawaii's rare native birds include many nectar feeders, but these are a special group of birds called Hawaiian honeycreepers.

Q: How can you tell if you've seen a Hawaiian owl?
A: There are only two owl species in Hawai'i: the native pueo or Hawaiian owl, and the introduced barn owl. The two are fairly easy to tell apart. The pueo's face is generally dark around the eyes, while the barn owl's face is very pale and round. The pueo's body is a mottled dark brown and buffy white, while the barn owl is generally light brown. The barn owl is somewhat larger than the pueo and hunts primarily at night. The pueo can be seen hunting by day, as well as at dusk and dawn.

Q: Where can I get more information on Hawaii's rare plants and animals?
A: There are many books and magazine articles on the subject. Recently National Geographic Magazine featured Hawaii's Extinction Crisis (check out the September 1995 issue). A visit to the library and a search for "Hawaii, Natural History" will get you started. Also check out our related links web page as it lists many biological resources.