A Hiker’s Guide to Trailside Plants in Hawaii

From arid coastal plains to chilly cloud forests, Hawai‘i is home to an astonishing range of flora. Many of our plant species, like the regal koa and hardy silversword, can be found nowhere else in the world!

Knowing how to identify these plants, and learning about their historical uses and associated legends will greatly enrich your hiking experience. In A Hiker’s Guide to Trailside Plants, John B. Hall introduces you many of the plants—both native and nonnative—that you are likely to encounter on Hawai‘i’s trails.

For easy reference, plants in this handy book have been divided into the following climatic zones: Coastal, Dry Forest, Mesic Forest, Wet Forest, and Alpine. Each color-coded zone is further subdivided into Herbs, Shrubs, Trees, Vines, Ferns, and Miscellaneous. Along the way, author John B. Hall points out notable features— leaf shape, flower color, and even taste—that will help you to identify each plant.

Table of Contents

Coastal Plants

Herbs

Akulikuli

Alena

Australian Saltbush

Hinahina

Ilima

Nehe

Pickleweed

Portulaca, Ihi

Pua Kala

Shurbs

Indian Fleabane, Indian Pluchea

Mao

Noni

Pohinahina, Beach Vitex

Trees

Hala

Hau

Milo

Naio, Bastard Sandalwood

Tree Heliotrope

Vines

Beach Morning Glory, Pohuehue

Kaunaoa, Dodder

Pau O Hiiaka

Sea Bean

Dry Forest Plants

Herbs

Ageratina, Maui Pamakani

Ageratum

Air Plant

Amaranth

Carrion Flower

Coat Buttons

Common Basil, Sweet Basil

Coral Berry

Desmodium, Spanish Clover

Enaena

Flora’s Paintbrush

Hairy Horseweed

Iliee, Plumbago

Kookoolau

Lion’s Ear

Molasses Grass

Partridge Pea

Popolo, Black Nightshade

Sensitive Plant, Sleeping Grass

Spurflower, Plectranthus, Alaala Wai Nui Pua Ki

Uhaloa

Verbena

Shurbs

Aalii

Abutilon

Aheahea

Akia

Akoko

Burr Bush

Castor Bean

Indigo

Jamaica Vervain

Klu

Kolomona, Scrambled Egg Tree

Kului

Lantana

Mickey Mouse Plant

Panini, Prickly Pear

Pukiawe

Sourbush, Pluchea

Ulei

Trees

Alahee

Christmas Berry, Brazilian Pepper

Common Guava

Formosan Koa

Ironwood, Casuarina

Java Plum

Kiawe

Koa Haole

Lama

Logwood

Lonomea

Olopua

Strawberry Guava

Silk, Silver, or He Oak

Wiliwili

Vines

Huehue

Ivy Gourd

Ferns

Doryopteris

Gold Fern

Moa

Pakahakaha

Miscellaneous

Starfish Stinkhorn

Mesic Forest Plants

Herbs

Alaala Wai Nui

Awapuhi, Shampoo Ginger

Bamboo Orchid

Basket Grass

Chinese Gourd Orchid, Nun’s Orchid, Nun’s Hood Orchid

Chinese Violet

Elephantopus, Elephant’s Foot

False Meadow Beauty

Fireweed

Guinea Grass

Honohono

Hulumoa

Mints

Montbretia

Palm Grass

Philippine Ground Orchid

Rattlepod

Rumex, Huahuako

Sedges

Ukiuki

Wedelia

White Shrimp Plant

Shurbs

Clidemia, Koster’s Curse

Dog Tail

Haha, Cyanea

Hoawa

Iliau

Kokio Keokeo, Hibiscus

Labordia, Kamakahala

Mamaki

Manono

Naupaka

Oha Wai

Pilo

Rose Myrtle

Tea Tree, Manuka

Thimbleberry and Akala

Ti, Ki

Tree Daisy

Trees

African Tulip Tree

Ahakea

Alaa, Aulu

Allspice

Ardisia and Hilo Holly

Avocado, Alligator Pear

Bamboo, Ohe

Black Wattle

Brush Box

Caimitillo, Satinleaf

Cecropia, Trumpet Tree

Chinese Banyan

Cinnamon, Padang Cassia

Coffee

Cook Pine

Eucalyptus, Swamp Mahogany

Fiddlewood

Firetree

Gunpowder or Charcoal Tree

Hala Pepe

Hame

Iliahi, Sandalwood

Koa

Kopiko

Kukui, Candlenut

Macadamia

Macaranga

Mango

Maua

Moho, White Moho

Mountain Apple, Ohia Ai

Octopus Tree, Rubber Tree

Ohia, Ohia Lehua

Ohia Ha

Papala

Papala Kepau

Paperbark

Paraserianthes, “Albizia”

Rose Apple

Sugi, Tsugi

Toona, Australian Red Cedar

Tropical Ash

Turpentine Tree

Ulu, Breadfruit

Vines

Awikiwiki

Cat’s Claw, Wait-a-Bit

Hoi Kuahiwi, Smilax

Ieie

Lilikoi, Passion Fruit

Maile

Maile Pilau

Nuku Iiwi

Ferns

Amau

Australian Tree Fern

Bird’s Nest Fern, Ekaha

Blechnum

Bracken Fern, Kilau

Christella, Downy Wood Fern

Ekaha, Hart’s (or Stag’s) Tongue Fern

Hapuu

Lauae, Maile-Scented Fern

Lauae Haole, Rabbit’s Foot Fern

Palaa, Lace Fern

Palapalai

Sword Fern, Boston Fern, Kupukupu

Uluhe, False Staghorn Fern

Miscellaneous

Lichens

Liverworts

Mosses

Pepeiao

Polychrome Wood Fan

Scarlet Wood Fan

Trentepohlia

Wet Forest Plants

Herbs

Arthrostema

Asiatic

Pennywort

Daisy Fleabane

Gingers

Hairy Cat’s Ear, Gosmore

Knotweed

Machaerina, Uki

Oriental Hawksbeard

Painiu

Taro, Kalo

Shrubs

Akolea

Alani

Clerodendrum, Pikake Honohono

Glory Bush, Lasiandra, Tibouchina

Haiwale, Cyrtandra

Night Cestrum

Olomea

Olona

Oxyspora

Puahanui, Kanawau

Trees

Kalia

Kawau

Kolea

Loulu

Maia, Banana

Miconia

Ohe, Oheohe

Olapa, Lapalapa

Vines

Hoi, Pia

Ferns

Gonocormus

Maidenhair Fern, Iwaiwa

Mule’s Foot Fern

Selaginella, Lepelepe A Moa, Spike Moss

Vandenboschia

Wahine Noho Mauna

Wawaiiole, Lycopodiella, Club Moss

Subalpine Zone

Herbs

Catchfly, Campion

Evening Primrose

Silversword, Ahinahina

Tetramolopium

Shrubs

Geranium, Hinahina

Naenae, Kupaoa

Ohelo

Trees

Mamane

Author: John B. Hall