Global Garden Field Report for posting student work
Marcy Montgomery, Camp Internet Education Director: . . . . Thu, Feb 24, 1:46PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Greetings from KONAWAENA HIGH SCHOOL (konawyna is how it is pronounced) on the Big Island of Hawaii. The school is located in a small rural community on the slope of the Mauna Loa volcano, overlooking the Pacific. Here is the entry to the school button . On February 15th the Environmental Science Class lead by Mr. Wiley went on a field trip to the Amy B H Greenwell Botanical Garden in Captain Cook. . The garden is operated by the Bishop Museum and the Garden Director, Peter Van Dyke, began the tour of native plants in the coastal zone into the low land dry forest zone. Brian continued to lead the tour in the upper mountain forest zone...... Every student has since been busy researching and preparing a field report on their chosen plant.
Joshua Rosario, Mr. Wiley's Environmental Science Class, Konawaena High, Big Island of Hawaii: . . . . Thu, Feb 24, 2:04PM PST (-0800 GMT)
‘AWA by Joshua Rosario p.d 3 2/22/05 … ‘Awa is a Polynesian introduced plant, brought to the islands by Polynesian voyagers in their sailing canoes. The scientific name of ‘Awa is Piper methysticum, a member of the pepper family. ‘Awa grows in the wild and is also cultivated throughout our islands. It grows best at low elevations with constant moisture and partial sun. In old Hawaii there were over a dozen varieties of ‘Awa. …….. The branches of the plant are sparse, and it can grow up to 12 feet tall. The leaves are large and heart shaped with green or black jointed stems. The rarest is black ‘Awa. The flower is an unnoticeable narrow yellow-green spike. It has a thick root that is soft when fresh and hard when it dries. It must be two or three years old minimum to have usable potency. It is most valuable as an intoxicating drink and as medicine. It is also used as a sacred plant for prayer, as well as appreciated for pleasure, especially in the south Pacific islands. It supposedly assists in opening communication channels with others and with the elements. ….. The roots, stems, leaves, and bark are used as a medicine for the following: general debility, weary muscles, chills, colds, headaches, lung and other respiratory diseases like asthma, displacement of the womb, diabetes, and congestion of the urinary tract. In the past people would give feverish or restless children chewed leaf buds to help them sleep. It is also used during the infants teething stage. …… ‘Awa is used mainly as a sedative to induce relaxation and sleep. It is also used as a tonic when people feel weak, as it is stimulating and refreshing, unless used in large servings. Over indulgence in ‘Awa for a period of time can temporarily affect the skin and eyes. The word ‘Awa means bitter. Those who perform strenuous work appreciate it for it’s relief for stiffness, tenseness and fatigue in the muscles. ‘Awa is a muscle relaxant to weary farmers, fishermen, hunters and paddlers.
Danah, Mr. Wiley's Environmental Science Class, Konawaena High, Big Island of Hawaii: . . . . Thu, Feb 24, 2:12PM PST (-0800 GMT)
button Hala… by Danah … The Hala tree is known as an ancient plant with many uses. Hala was around before the dinosaurs even walked the earth! Hala is indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands. The scientific name for Hala is pandanus. This plant is part of the Screwpine family. Hala is also native to other places in the Pacific and parts of Asia. It came to Hawaii on its own, the seeds of the Hala float on water. Hala lives from sea level up to 2,000 feet elevation. Hala can grow up to 20 feet tall. A rare characteristic about this plant is it has aerial roots, which means that the roots grow above the ground. The leaf of the Hala, known as Lau Hala, grows in a spiral at the end of the branches. Hala and Lau Hala have been used for many things in ancient times. It is also used in present times as well. Hala is used to make mats, hats, thatch, leis, cordage and medicine. The fruit of the Hala is edible, but the Native Hawaiians did not use Hala as a source of food. The Hala is either male or female. The difference between the two is the shape, the purpose of the blossom, and the hardness of the wood. The female flowers produce fruit clusters that look similar to pineapples. The male flower, hinano, has a nice smell. Its pollen could be used to preserve feather leis. Hinano was also used by Hawaiian girls as a love charm. The wood of the female Hala tree has a hard outside and a soft inside. The wood of the male tree is hard throughout the entire branch.
David, Mr. Wiley's Environmental Science Class, Konawaena High, Big Island of Hawaii: . . . . Thu, Feb 24, 2:15PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Hapuu ….. By David …. The scientific name for hapuu is cibotium splendens it is also called the Mother of the Forest. It can grow up to forty feet and weigh a lot. It will grow well from sea level up to six thousand feet. Some of the biggest ferns are found at Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. The Hapuu can be used in a number of ways. The fur that grows on young shoots called Pulu can be used for stuffing pillows and mattresses. The Hapuu can also be a food source. Both the young core and new leaves can be cooked an eaten but it doesn’t taste very good. The bigger ferns often fall due to being top heavy. Even though roots are not in the ground the fern can still grow. Within a week or two, shoots will begin to grow upward from the fallen trunk. This is a lot faster for the fern to reproduce than using their spores.
Heidi, Mr. Wiley's Environmental Science Class, Konawaena High, Big Island of Hawaii: . . . . Thu, Feb 24, 2:19PM PST (-0800 GMT)
KOA by Heidi …. Koa wood is the most widely used wood in Hawaii, and is also called “Hawaiian Mahogany.” When polished, it resembles a beautiful red color with light- colored wavy lines. Today it is used for furniture, woodwork, ukuleles, and novelties. The ancient Hawaiians had many other various uses for this beautiful wood. It was carved by Hawaiians into such things as war canoes, surf boards, and calabashes. To this day, koa is considered the most valuable lumber tree in Hawaii. The magnificence of the native Hawaiian forest tree, koa is clearly visible. Its height can easily reach 50 feet or more. It is commonly found on mountain sides, usually between altitudes of 1,500 and 4,000 feet, where its dark green crown is a noticeable feature of the surroundings. Koa is one of the greatest trees for reforestation. When grown under perfect conditions, the trunk resembles a tall and straight giant, reaching a height as great as 60 feet before any low branches begin. There have been a few that have reached a diameter of 10 feet. At high altitudes this is especially true today and was also true in the past, as is evidenced by fossils. Ancient lava flows destroyed the trees flowing down the slopes of Mauna in ancient times; in modern times, cutting and burning of koa are reducing their existence rapidly.
Ashley, Mr. Wiley's Environmental Science Class, Konawaena High, Big Island of Hawaii: . . . . Thu, Feb 24, 2:23PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Kukui ( Candelnut )--- bu Ashley ---- Kukui, also known as candlenut, is a very important introduced plant or canoe plant meaning that it was brought over in canoes by the Polynesian, meaning that it is neither endemic or indigenous. The Kukui tree’s scientific name is Aleurites moluccana. Kukui is used for oil for lamps, you can make dyes from the bark, the hawaiins used the dyes for tapa cloths and for dyeing the fishnets red because red is the first color filtered out by the ocean so the fish won’t see it. Kukui is edible but you shouldn’t eat too much of it because it is a medicine for constipation. Kukui can be cooked and used in inamona (a type of Hawaiian food) as condiments. Kukui nuts can be used as tops for games. Kukui bark can be made into charcoal for tattoo inks. Kukui can be described as a large tree with clusters of flowers that are male and female, it makes a round nut about one inch in diameter. The leaves are rounded at the bottom and have three tips. The kukui tree is the official tree emblem for the state of Hawaii. Kukui trees drop up to 100 pounds per tree of leaves and nuts. The kukui tree was believed to be the body form of the Hawaiian pig god.