John, Mr. Wiley's Environmental Science Class, Konawaena High, Big Island of Hawaii: . . . . Thu, Feb 24, 2:27PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Loulu by John …. Hawaiian Name: Loulu … Scientific Name: Pritchardia Schattaueri … Family: The Palm Family … Endemic . There are 20 different species of Pritchardia palm. This palm originates from Honomalino on the Big Island. Loulu was once the most common tree in Hawaii. Now there are only 14 of the Pritchardia Schattaueri trees left in the wild. Uses: The trunk of the Loulu is used for making spears, the leaves are used for thatching, and the seeds are edible. They taste the best when they are young. The seeds taste bitter if you leave the skin on them.

Gup, Mr. Wiley's Environmental Science Class, Konawaena High, Big Island of Hawaii: . . . . Thu, Feb 24, 2:31PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Maile by Gup … Maile is a plant endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The scientific name for Maile is Alyxia oliviformis. Maile is not a tree it is a vine. The leaves are smooth and shiny, the leaves are dark green on the top and the bottom of the leaves are a more light green. The leaves can be up to 3-1/2 inches long and grow in groups of 2-4. The leaves and bark have a very nice smell to them if they were to be crushed or twisted. The Maile vines have tiny flowers that are a greenish to yellowish white in color. This plant can be found in dry areas to some wet forests. Maile can be found from sea level up to an elevation of 6,500 feet. This plant can’t be found on Kaho’olawe and Ni’ihau but it is found on all of the other main Islands. Because of it’s popularity for making lei, much of the natural growths have been taken. It is harder to find. Today much of the maile used for lei making is grown on the Cook Islands.

Julia, Mr. Wiley's Environmental Science Class, Konawaena High, Big Island of Hawaii: . . . . Thu, Feb 24, 2:34PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Milo--- by Julia --- Milo is a small to medium sized tree, growing to less than 40 feet high. The trunk Can be 2 feet in diameter at full maturity. The Milo tree was brought to these islands by early Polynesian Settlers who carried the seeds; this fast-growing evergreen tree was planted around the temples in Tahiti, as it is spiritually connected to the chant and to prayer. It is a widespread species throughout Polynesia and Micronesia, as well as in tropical Africa. The scientific name is Thespesia populnea, and it is also known as the Portia tree. A member of the Hibiscus family, the Malvacceae, it is a close relative of Hua, ‘Ilima, and Ma’o, Hawaii cotton. The bark of Milo was used for cordage fiber. The tree also yields tannin, dye, oil, medicine and gum, from various parts of the plant. The Milo wood was creatively crafted into poi bowls called Umeke ai. It is also crafted into plates. The Milo has an attractive grain that takes a high polish and, in addition to food utensils and containers, was fashioned into paddles and other carved objects, as well as for an occasional canoe. The wood has a pleasant-tasting sap that could contaminate stored food. When the Milo leaves are at a young stage they are edible.

Ashley, Mr. Wiley's Environmental Science Class, Konawaena High, Big Island of Hawaii: . . . . Thu, Feb 24, 2:37PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Naupaka Kahakai... By Ashley … The scientific name for Naupaka Kahakai is Scaevola Sericea. Naupaka Kahakai is an indigenous plant meaning that it is a Native plant of Hawaii but also found in other island areas. Naupaka Kahakai is found on all of the islands in the Pacific Ocean. This plant is found along the coast. The flower on this plant is white and it is only half of a flower. There is one part of this plant that is edible, the part of the plant that is edible is the little white berries. This plant can be used for your goggles before you put on your goggles you have to crumble the leaf all up and then when your goggles are wet rub it in your goggles and then rinse it out, this will help your goggles from fogging up. There is a story about this plant. The story is that there was a Hawaiian princess that had fell in love with a boy, but her father hadn’t allowed them to get married so he had turned them into Naupaka Kuahiwi and Naupaka Kahakai. The flowers on these plants are half flowers and both of these plants wouldn’t be able to survive in each others climates. So if these two flowers from each of these plants were to be joined together that would mean that the boy and the princess could be together.

Jennifer, Mr. Wiley's Environmental Science Class, Konawaena High, Big Island of Hawaii: . . . . Thu, Feb 24, 2:40PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Ohelo Berry by Jennifer Kuulei Baysinger … The ‘Ohelo berry is six inches in size and grows as tall as waste high but occasionally larger. The berry is related to the cranberry and blueberry plant which are both edible. Sometimes the berry’s on the ‘ohelo bush range in colors, goes from bright red to yellow and orange, it is also sometimes sweet and other times it is tart, depending on the amount of time it has grown on the bush. The berry’s scientific family is the vaccinium reticulatum, and is endemic or native to the Hawaiian Islands. The ‘ohelo berry grows in the Volcano National Park on the big island of Hawaii and is also found on Maui, which is visited often by tourists and residents. Visitors are encouraged not to eat the ‘ohelo berry in the Volcano National Park because the native bird known as the Nene Goose eat them, the berry’s are also known to be sacred to the volcano goddess Pele. It is also not good to eat the ‘ohelo berry because there is a berry that looks just like it called Akia and is very poisonous. The only difference is the Akia(not edible) berry has one single seed in side, and the o’helo(which is the edible one)has many small seeds in it. The ‘ohelo berry is used for jams, syrups, etc.

Josie Mr. Wiley's Environmental Science Class, Konawaena High, Big Island of Hawaii: . . . . Thu, Feb 24, 2:46PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Olapa (Cheirodendron)… by Josie …….. Olapa is an endemic plant, which is only found in the Hawaiian islands. It is also apart of the Ginseng family, and is identified by it’s constant movement of it’s leaves. The Olapa leaves have a giving shape of a human hand, and is said to move gracefully with the breeze just like hula dancers. Olapa has five different type of species, and is Hawaii’s most common forest trees. It’s habitat ranges from mesic to wet forest. Olapa is found on all Hawaiian island except for Kaho’olawe. Olapa grows at elevations of 2,000-4,000 feet. It’s mostly popular on the slopes of Haleakala. Olapa on the slopes of Haleakala reaches heights up to 40 to 50 feet tall. The trunk of the Olapa could be as large as 2 feet in diameter. When Olapa is grown in wet forest it has a smooth yellowish bark. When Olapa is found in dry regions it is said to have a rough scaly bark. A way to see if an Olapa tree is bruised you may look for a spot of green on the wood, or you may smell a strong carrot smell.

Chelsea, Mr. Wiley's Environmental Science Class, Konawaena High, Big Island of Hawaii: . . . . Thu, Feb 24, 2:52PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Ko’oloa’ula by Chelsea … Abutilon menziesii, also known as the Ko’oloa’ula, is a very beautiful plant. It has a small red flower (small as an Ilima Flower) which looks similar to a Hibiscus flower. The Ko’oloa’ula is in the Malvaceae family, but mostly everyone in Hawaii knows it by the “Hibiscus Family.” I haven’t found any traditional uses for this plant, but I think the flowers could’ve been used for making lei. The Ko’oloa’ula is named in honor of the botanist, Archibald Menizies, who visited Hawaii in the 1870’s. Ko’oloa’ula is a rare and endangered species. The plant grows in the dry forests on the islands of Maui, Lanai, Oahu, and Hawai’i. Ko’oloa’ula is an endemic plant, which means it is only found in the Hawaiian Islands. Less than ten naturally occurring populations throughout the islands currently have only about 500 plants left. The reasons why the plant is rare are because its habitat is being destroyed. Feral animals are eating its seed, and a large amount of weeds are growing in its environment. To help conserve the Ko’oloa’ula the federal and state agencies are building fences to prevent feral animals from destroying the plant and they are growing the plant in Botanical Gardens. You can find a healthy plant in Amy Greenwell Botanical Garden, located in Captain Cook, Hawaii.

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