Category Archives: Nature

The Monk Seal babies of Waikiki

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Sebastian Marquez

I had the privilege of seeing the monk seal pups in Waikiki the past few years. Seeing the young seals being raised by their mom adjacent to some of the most highly used shorelines in Hawai`i shows the challenges and … Continue reading →

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Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #38 Lobelia yuccoides

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Sebastian Marquez

Lobelia yuccoides Hawaiian name: Panaunau Conservation status: Rare Distribution: O’ahu (Wai’anae Mountains) Date photographed: 3/19/2015 *Identification: : Form– Stems woody, erect, 15-20 dm long, with dense apical rosette of leaves Leaves– linear, 24-35 cm long, 0.5-1.5 cm wide, lower surface white … Continue reading →

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Let’s talk about: Doodia

Posted on January 1, 2023 by Sebastian Marquez

Here is another fern we have at the Manoa Cliff restoration site. ‘Okupukupu (Doodia kunthiana) is another endemic component to mesic-wet forest understories here in Hawai’i. It may be common in other areas, but I have not come across this … Continue reading →

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Snapshot: Hawaiian wood fern

Posted on December 18, 2022 by Sebastian Marquez

Considering I’ve been blogging mostly about Hawaiian plants since 2010, I’m surprised at myself for not having talked about ferns as much. In the wet forest habitats that I often frequent, ferns of all types are characteristic components of these … Continue reading →

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Let’s talk about: ‘Oha

Posted on December 11, 2022 by Sebastian Marquez

Today’s post I thought I’d talk more in detail about Delissea. I want to get into a bit of its natural history, the grave challenges it faces but also some unique opportunities that anyone of interest can engage with. Of … Continue reading →

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Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #37: Trematolobelia kaalae

Posted on November 18, 2022 by Sebastian Marquez

Trematolobelia kaalae Conservation status: Apparently secure Distribution: O’ahu (Wai’anae Mountains) Date photographed: 3/19/2015 *Identification: : Form– Treelets 1-4 m tall Leaves– linear to oblanceolate, blades 15-36 cm long, 0.8-3.1 cm wide. Flower– calyx lobes triangular, 3-17 mm long, 1-3 mm wide; corolla … Continue reading →

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Snapshot: Ginko trees and connections in deep time

Posted on November 1, 2022 by Sebastian Marquez

Arbor day in Hawai’i is coming up again and I am reminded of my trip to Korea about 8 years ago. We were staying at the Jeongju Hanok Village when we came across this old Ginko tree with a sign. … Continue reading →

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Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #36: Cyanea membrenacea

Posted on October 9, 2022 by Sebastian Marquez

Cyanea membrenacea Conservation status: Critically Endangered Distribution: O’ahu (Wai’anae Mountains) Date photographed: 8/20/2022 *Identification: Form– Sparingly branched shrubs 2-4m tall Leaves– oblanceolate to oblong, blades 18-32 cm long, 3-9 cm wide. Flower– calyx lobes dentiform, 0.5-1 mm long; corolla white, … Continue reading →

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Let’s talk about: Olomea

Posted on January 26, 2022 by Sebastian Marquez

I’m going to try something a bit different. I got the inspiration for doing this from the 1 comment in the ‘aka’aka’awa post. Internet searches can and are wonderful ways to find out about native Hawaiian plants and animals. But … Continue reading →

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The face that we almost forgot

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Sebastian Marquez

If you are of a particular age cohort, you will remember the sensation that was M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense. Lauded, then cliched, for its plot twist, the movie was also known for Haley Joel Osment’s famous utterance: “I … Continue reading →

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