• Cindercones dot the landscape in the Wilderness Area

    Haleakalā

    National Park Hawai'i

Haleakala Silverswords

Haleakala silverswords in full bloom
Haleakalā silverswords (ʻahinahina) in full bloom.
NPS photo by Kit Harris
 

About 90 percent of Haleakalā's native flora (some 370 species) are found only in Hawaiʻi. Adaptation over millions of years in isolation from their mainland ancestors has resulted in many bizarre and beautiful forms, such as this silversword group.

 

But now these native plants' survival depends upon man's intervention. The park work crews erect fences to keep ungulates away, destroy non-indigenous plants, and convince park visitors to stay on trails to avoid soil compaction which threatens silversword (ʻahinahina) seedlings.

  • Inventory & Monitoring Program Inventory & Monitoring Program

    at Haleakalā Read More

  • the honeycreepers, the honeycreepers,

    endemic Hawaiian birds Read More

  • Checklist of Plants Checklist of Plants

    of Haleakalā Read More

  • Bird List Bird List

    of Haleakalā, illustrated Read More

Did You Know?

Did You Know?

The three Wilderness Cabins at Haleakalā National Park, built of redwood in the 1930s by the CCC, are a popular lodging option for overnight hikers - but must be reserved in advance! More...