About Trees in Hawaii
The Hawaiian islands have a beautiful, tropical climate year-round, making it an ideal location for a wide variety of trees. Some of these are native to the islands, while many others were brought there from locations around the world. This gives Hawaii a unique, and sometimes struggling, ecosystem. Does this Spark an idea?
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Geography
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Hawaii is home to many different trees that grow there naturally. Of these, the guava tree is the most common. This tree is so prominent that it is often considered a pest. The state tree of Hawaii is the kukui, or candle nut tree. This tree can be identified by the pale green foliage and small round nuts it produces. The name "candle nut" comes from the original use for these nuts. In ancient Hawaii, they were burned to measure the passing of time. In Hawaiian culture, the candle nut tree is a symbol of protection, peace and enlightenment. The koa tree is another popular native. This forest tree provides a wonderful hardwood, sometimes referred to as Hawaiian mahogany, that is frequently used in Hawaiian woodworking. This wood is resistant to salt water and is therefore a popular choice for canoes, boats and surfboards. The number of koa trees is dwindling, so use of the wood is restricted for most projects.
Features
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Hawaii is home to some very unusual trees. One of these is the autograph tree. The leaves of this tree are very thick and can actually be etched. The autograph tree is usually found in parks or on seashores and a close inspection may reveal several messages carved onto the leaves. The golden shower tree, though common in Hawaii, may be especially breathtaking to outsiders with its long bunches of bright yellow flowers waving gracefully in the sea breeze.
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Function
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Many trees in Hawaii are not only beautiful, but serve a very important function. One of these is the coffee tree. Large coffee plantations can be found on the Big Island and Kauai. There are also many naturally spreading coffee trees from closed plantations. Java plum trees and mango trees grow on most of the islands. Coconut palms are another common tree in Hawaii. It is unknown whether these trees are native, or were brought by early Polynesians. The coconuts from these trees are used for food as well as timber and fiber. Coconuts are also used for ornamental purposes.
Considerations
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Over 200 species of foreign trees have been introduced to Hawaii. The red mangrove tree was brought from Florida and has since become naturalized in the Hawaiian islands. The macadamia nut tree was brought to Hawaii from Australia. It has been so successful that the nuts are now grown commercially on the Big Island. Of the many transplants brought to Hawaii, one of the most recent is the cinnamon tree. These are used for commercial cinnamon and are grown primarily on Oahu.
Effects
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The introduction of many non-native plants has had a serious effect on many native plants. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, only about 2,200 indigenous trees grew on the islands. Of these, over 50 percent are either extinct or endangered. Many species of bidens, also known as Ko'oko'olau, are now endangered in the Hawaiian islands. Sandlewood is a wonderful aromatic hardwood. It was traded so heavily in the late 1700s and early 1800s that the merchantable supply was exhausted by 1840.
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