Category Archives: Nature

Beacons from the Ewa Plains

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

Today’s short article is about some of the remnant native flora on the Ewa Plains. Most of these nature excursions take me to remote places on O’ahu. So it was a little disconcerting to look for rare natives while dodging … Continue reading →

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Snapshot: Clermontia FTW!

Posted on August 11, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

While my core philosophy is that we all share this planet, it does have its drawbacks. Namely, some people don’t share very well or care to. Here, someone broke a rare Clermontia kakeana in half. This is a good example … Continue reading →

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Koke’e part 2 of 2: The Mesic Forest

Posted on July 29, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

The Pihea and Alakai Swamp trails are some of the most popular trails in Koke’e. Birders of all persuasions find these trails to be almost guaranteed sightings of native forests birds as well as the chance to see something rare. For … Continue reading →

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Koke’e Part 1 of 2: The Wet Forest

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

After 2 years, I finally returned to Koke’e on Kaua’i. Did I learn anything in that intervening time… or did I just regress? Either way, hiking through that native forest is still such a blissful experience…

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Snapshot: Kolea

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

One of the neatest looking Kolea (Myrsine ssp.) is this one. Myrsine linearifolia is found in a small portion of Koke’e on Kaua’i. Luckily, it is fairly easy to see. Look for it along the road  near Pu’u O Kila.

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Snapshot: Rhynchospora

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

Now here is a difficult plant for me to ID. This is one of the beak-rush (Rhynchospora ssp.) found here in Hawaii. Florally, it is fairly distinctive, but strictly vegetatively… to my unknowning eyes, it looks an awful lot like … Continue reading →

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Snapshot: Hau kuahiwi

Posted on June 2, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

For the second time in a month, I was back visiting Big Island. The weather over the memorial day weekend was perfect; I couldn’t have asked for better conditions to enjoy our native biota like this Hibiscadelphus giffardianus again.

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Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #22: Clermontia hawaiiensis

Posted on June 2, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

Clermontia hawaiiensis Hawaiian Name: Oha kepau, Oha wai nui Conservation Status: Vulnerable Distribution: Hawaii (Puna & Kau District) Date photographed: May 28, 2012 *Identification: Form– Shrubs 1.5-9 m tall Leaves– oblong to oblanceolate; blades 9-24 cm long by 2.5-6.5 cm wide; margins callose-crenulate; … Continue reading →

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Snapshot: Galapagos Tree Opuntia

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

When I went to the Galapagos Islands back in 2006, I had not become interested in botany yet. Still, when I saw this arborescent Prickly Pear (Opuntia echios subsp. gigantea?) I was impressed enough to take a picture. It seems … Continue reading →

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Intro to the plants of Thurston Lava Tube

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

If you’re brand new to the Native Hawaiian plant scene and happen to be on the Big Island, please check out the Thurston Lava Tube. It is an easy way for someone to get an idea of what native forests … Continue reading →

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