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It seems bizarre that many plants from some of the most ancient geological regions of the world readily adapt to Hawaii’s young volcanic soils. Some in Hawaii are from Australia and ancient islands like Madagascar and New Caledonia. When it comes to strange animals and plants, Australia is in the lead for its share of…

We normally worry about hurricanes raising havoc from June through November, but some severe storms can occur almost any month, especially March. Trees, shrubs and other vegetation are the lungs of the planet, so the more the better especially in urban and suburban settings.  Some of our ancient historical trees like the banyan at Kona’s…

The question is, are genetically modified organisms good or bad? The answer is that it all depends on how the technology is used. The issue of genetically modified plants or animals is very complex as is any new technology. Actually, the GMO issue is just a new twist on what we humans have been doing…

We often find ourselves worried about storm damage as hurricane season approaches in June. Hurricanes can cause tremendous damage on the rare occasion that one comes our way, but they are few and far between. The facts show that on an annual basis, we have more cumulative damage due to high winds and rains from…

In the good old days, a typical Hawaiian garden was large enough to give neighbors plenty of space to have privacy. As our population increases and land costs escalate, lots are getting smaller. This requires creativity to effectively give us a little garden peace and quiet. Traditional garden designs of Japan have dealt with these…

For centuries even before we celebrated Dec. 25 as the day Jesus was born, earlier cultures celebrated the passing of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. The days will now get longer even though it is technically the beginning of winter and will last until the beginning of spring. Spring officially occurs when the…

When the first Polynesians arrived in the Hawaiian Islands, there were very few plants that were of use as edible or medicinal. Initially they probably lived on what could be taken from the sea like limu, fish, vana, opihi, squid, octopus and sea slugs, just to mention a few. Of course, many birds flourished on…

There are more than 1,200 species of bamboo that vary from a few inches tall like Sasa pygmea pygmea to giants like Dendrocalamus brandisii at 120 feet in height. There are runners that may spread if not contained, and others that form well-mannered clumps. Hawaii’s varied climates and cultural makeup are ideal for bamboo, but…

Our Thanksgiving turkey is at the soup stage and Christmas is almost here. Poinsettias are in full bloom as well as the related shrub, snows of Kilimanjaro, or Euphorbia leucocephala. Folks are sending cards, buying and mailing gifts, but it seems like most of us are a bit slow in getting our mainland Christmas trees…

We frequently talk of protecting the rainforests and cloud forests of Hawaii, but often neglect the importance of Hawaii’s dry land forests. However, thanks to the efforts of Ka‘ahahui o Ka Nahelehele we are beginning to understand the importance as well. According to Mary Metcalf, president of the nonprofit organization, its mission is to advocate…