Category Archives: Nature

1984… and 1884

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Sebastian Marquez

The Bishop Museum just wrapped up their Wonders of Nature exhibit. As great as it was to see the Museum’s collections from throughout the Pacific, I was there for a very specific reason. It was my first real chance to … Continue reading →

Posted in Natural History | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Relatives staying for the Holidays

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Sebastian Marquez

As the holidays fast approach, we must honor those grand traditions of putting up decorations, sending out photos of your “antler and sweater” festooned family, and eating all the delicious holiday meals. Most importantly, we must revel in the sudden … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #31: Cyanea asarifolia

Posted on August 30, 2014 by Sebastian Marquez

Cyanea asarifolia Hawaiian Name: Haha Conservation Status: Endangered Distribution: Kaua’i (Anahola stream) Date photographed: 8/29/2014 Ease of viewing: Cultivated *Identification: Form– Shrub, 0.3-1 m tall Leaves– cordiform, blades 8.5-10.5 cm long, 7-8 cm wide, base cordate. Flower– calyx lobes dentiform, 0.51 mm long; corolla white with … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The myth. The legend. Wailupe

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Sebastian Marquez

How can I properly frame this? On O’ahu, few places have intrigued me as much as Wailupe. A lot of it has to do with its historical association with the scientific inquiry of Hawaiian biota. Some of it is because … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Kuli’ou’ou plants

Posted on July 5, 2014 by Sebastian Marquez

We went on a hike to check out the plant life of Kuli’ou’ou Valley. It was impressive to see the diversity still left in such a commonly hiked area.

Posted in Botany | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #30: Clermontia lindseyana

Posted on June 29, 2014 by Sebastian Marquez

Clermontia lindseyana Hawaiian Name: ‘Oha wai Conservation Status: Endangered Distribution: East Maui, Hawai’i (Windward Mauna Kea, Ka’u, South Kona) Date photographed: 8/23/2013 Ease of viewing: Outplanted *Identification: Form– Terrestrial shrubs or trees 2.5-6 m tall. Leaves– oblanceolate or elliptic; blades 13-24 cm long, 3.8-6.5 … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Snapshot: Cyanea’s African Relatives

Posted on April 12, 2014 by Sebastian Marquez

Africa. Where the Pleistocene Megafauna still lives. While it’s easy to focus on all the large animals, Africa holds a specific interest for the Hawaiian plant nerd in me. For research (Givnish, 2008) shows that some of the Hawaiian Lobeliads … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Flowers of Ka’upulehu

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Sebastian Marquez

I was finally able to visit the Ka’upulehu dryland forest near Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. After spending some quality time in that lava-strewn forest, I cannot say enough about that place. It was some of the most amazing, hopeful … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #29: Cyanea grimesiana

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Sebastian Marquez

Cyanea grimesiana ssp. grimesiana Hawaiian Name: Kuenui? Conservation Status: Endangered Distribution: O’ahu (Mt. Ka’ala, Ko’olau mountains), Moloka’i Date photographed: 2/26/2014 Ease of viewing: outplanted *Identification: Form– Sparingly branched or unbranched shrubs 1-3.2 m tall, muricate. Leaves– pinnately divided, blades 2758 cm … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Snaphot: Hawaiian Avifauna

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Sebastian Marquez

The work by Dr. Helen James and Dr. Storrs Olson has greatly enriched our knowledge of the birds of Hawai’i. I’ve read as many of their *papers as I can. I was surprised to see this awesome mural when I … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals | Tagged | Leave a comment