NPS Photo

'Akialoa, catalog #HAVO 1291

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park has a complex diversity of biological and geological resources. There is a wealth of specimens in our natural history collection.

• Herbarium collection - started in the 1940’s by park naturalist Gunnar Fagerlund and A. L. Mitchell. The collection includes vascular plants, lichen, ferns seeds and marine algae. Today we have over 5000 specimens cataloged.
• Zoology collections – consist of mammal skins, bird skins and mounted bird specimens, various bird nests and an estimated 10,000 invertebrates (not cataloged).
• Geology collection – close to 100 rare or unusual volcanic forms and compositions are cataloged in the parks database.