May 16, 2022 — Flowers, birds, perfumed blossoms, blue ocean against green hillsides, separated by a white line of sand and surf. Art is everywhere in the tropical Hawaii. Nature’s art, God’s art. We did a 5 mile hike in this steep green mountainous area yesterday between Lahina and Wailena. Beautiful!
And now I’ll let the Artful Gents tell you the details about all the art everywhere in tropical Hawaii as they discuss the botany and birds of Maui. Nature’s art. I hope to be able to visit at least one of these botanical gardens while I am here. This is well worth the read and I’m glad I pulled it up and read it myself to know that much more about the natural art everywhere in tropical Hawaii.
Take it away, Artfuls: Come hiking with us, take a trip back in time and visit the places filled with plants, birds, and insects that make Maui unique. The next time you are in Hawaii, check out the Tropical Garden of Maui to experience some of the finest Floras the world has to offer. The enchanted floral gardens boast more than 2000 species of tropical and semi-tropical plants from all around the world. Show Source Texts
The botanical gardens serve as sales locations for a handful of local nurseries on Hawaii Island, which specializes in indigenous species. Maui Nui Botanical Gardens also hosts weekly Native Plant Sales & Giveaways, monthly workshops, Workdays each Wednesday, and much more. April is Native Hawaiian Plant Month, and Maui Nui Botanical Gardens is an excellent place to learn about native plants and to purchase them for your own backyard. Show Source Texts
Explore their Hawaii Plants of the Day photo albums to find a native or endemic plant on Maui Nui. Get help with identifying native plants or insects on the Hawaiian Islands by posting a picture and waiting for someone to help identify it. Or, follow a guide that teaches you the preservation, natural history, and cultural uses of different Hawaii plants. Show Source Texts
These websites are good places to verify if your local species native range is on Kahoolawe, Lanai, Maui, or Molokaii. If you want to have the opportunity to view Maui birds in an unspoiled environment, on the second Saturday of each month (weather permitting), The Hawaii Nature Conservancy leads a hiking trip into Waikamoi Cloud Forest, located on the slopes of Haleakala. The Hawaiian Islands are home to a surprising diversity of both native and exotic bird species, ranging from the majestic Nene Goose to the inquisitive Rose-ringed Parakeet. Show Source Texts
The early humans who settled Hawaii from Polynesia found a wholesome islands covered with birds, including species that cannot fly. Millions of years ago, the early ancestors of the endemic birds of Hawaii The endemic birds of Hawaii found themselves in the most remote archipelago in the world. Millions of years of evolution have produced new species of plants found nowhere else on earth, and plants have adapted to each of the Hawai i islands ecological niches. More importantly, 90% of the species that made their way to the dramatic coastlines of Hawaii are found nowhere else on earth. Show Source Texts
While there is certainly plenty of bird diversity on Hawaii; indeed, there is the highest abundance of endangered species in all the world in Hawaii. The nene is not only the official state bird of Hawaii — it is also unique to the islands, and is considered to be the rarest geese species in the world. The Nene may be the official state bird of Hawaii, but few avian creatures are more emblematic of the Hawaiian landscape than the kingfisher. Known as the Hawaiian falcon, the Io is a raptor-like bird restricted to Hawaiis largest islands, and is the only species of falcon endemic to the region. Show Source Texts
Known as the Hawaiian Thrush, the omao is a type of bird similar to robins and is restricted to only the rainforests on the east and west sides of Hawaiis Big Islands. The Hawaiian Creeper, a bird that is native to the Big Island of Hawaii, is distinguished by having olive green general feathers, a white throat, and dark grey facemask. The Alalas (which eat fruits, insects, mice, and even baby birds) are native to the Big Island of Hawaii. This species is one of the smallest Honeycreeper birds found in Hawaii, measuring just four inches tall and weighing around 10 grams. Show Source Texts
The Hawaiian gregarious, can burrow deep in tree bark in order to harvest insects from beneath. Look for a straight bill and a yellow flush across its forehead, face, and stomach of this tiny, green-and-yellow woodland bird. Endemic to eastern Maui. Look for this small, circular, fast moving, gray-green, little forest bird that crawls up branches and tree trunks looking for insects. This subspecies of American Short-Eared Owl has striking, shiny golden eyes, and a striped, tan-brown-and-white body with tufted legs. Before humans introduced rodents and monkeys to Hawaii, pueos were hunting other birds. Show Source Texts
Only about 500 birds are left today. The stocky kiwikiu, olive above and yellow below, is named after the stocky kiwikius parrot-like bills, which they use to snap branches to find insects in the moist, high-elevation forests. The next bird on this list is the Akiapolaau, the only species of bird in Hawaii to take over a niche as a woodpecker. That is, these Hawaiian birds are included among a population of birds controlling insects within a community. In simple terms, the indigenous species is any living thing that reached the Hawaiian islands without help from humans. Show Source Texts
The Hoomaluhia Arboretum has a flourishing population, and so does Volcanos National Park on the Big Island. The grounds also have an aviary featuring a selection of native bird species that you might be able to spot perching on branches and stems from some of the plants scattered around the Kula Botanical Garden. With more than two thousand species of plants and eight acres of land to explore on the side of beautiful Haleakala, Kula Botanical Garden is a must-see for everyone visiting Maui. Show Source Texts
Kula Botanical Gardens is a stunning place to stop by and unwind if you are attending any one of our many conferences here in Maui, the Beautiful Island. Our valley isle is home to a variety of different species, from roses and lilies, orchids, and birds of paradise. Known for their distinctive, and oh-so-charming, cries, Spotted Dove was introduced to Hawaii in the late 1800s, and has since become one of Hawaiis most common birds. This extra mission gives space for the numerous Lone Ranger ecological groups in Maui – Hawaii Native Plant Society, Circle Out, Maui Invasive Species Council, West Maui Watershed Partnership, Maui Forest Bird Restoration Project, Friends of Haleakala National Park, Hawaii Nature Center, Humpback Whale Marine Refuge, and others. Show Source Texts
Cited Sources
- https://www.bioexplorer.net/hawaiian-birds.html/ 0
- https://bossfrog.com/maui-bird-guide/ 1
- https://malamawaoakua.org/artist-resources/ 2
- https://www.hawaii-aloha.com/blog/2015/04/16/peacocks-in-hawaii/ 3
- https://www.cmemeeting.org/cme-conferences-hawaii/explore-the-beautiful-botanical-gardens-of-maui 4
- https://www.mauimagazine.net/planted-with-purpose/ 5
- https://mauiinvasive.org/2022/04/28/plant-native-cultivate-a-connection/ 6
- https://www.nps.gov/hale/learn/nature/birds-of-the-summit-district.htm 7
- https://mauiinn.com/blog/tropical-gardens-on-maui/ 8
- https://haleakalacrater.com/maui-bird-watching/ 9
