Native Plants

In scientific terms, two native natural communities are found in Ka‘ena Point NAR, the rare Naupaka (Scaevola sericea) Mixed Coastal Dry Shrubland and an ‘Ilima (Sida fallax) Coastal Dry Mixed Shrub and Grassland. Though naupaka itself is not rare, this particular community type is classified as critically imperiled, meaning that there are only 1-5 occurrences in the world.

While the majority of coastal plants growing at the Ka’ena NAR that are not rare like the naupaka, ‘ilima, naio (Myoporum sandwicense), pā‘ū o Hi‘iaka (Jacquemontia ovalifolia subsp. sandwicensis), and hinahina kū kahakai (Heliotropium anomalum var. argenteum), there are also 11 species that are federally listed endangered species:

•    Achyranthes splendens var. rotundata (no known Hawaiian name) •    ‘Āwiwi (Centaurium sebaeodes) •    ‘Akoko (Chamaesyce celastroides var. kaenana) •    Pu‘uka‘a (Cyperus trachysanthos) •    Ma‘o hau hele (Hibiscus brackenridgei) •    Kulu‘ī (Nototrichim humile) •    Carter’s panicgrass (Panicum faurier var. carteri) •    Dwarf naupaka (Scaevola coriacea) •    Schiedea kealiae (no known Hawaiian name) •    ‘Ohai (Sesbania tomentosa) •    Vigna o-wahuensis (no known Hawaiian name) Ola no i ka pua o ka ‘llima. There is healing in the ‘ilima blossoms. (Read more ..)