David Y. Ige

Lihu‘e, HI – Common and rare native plants of Hawai‘i will be available for purchase from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, November 4, at the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) Pua Loke Nursery, 4398-D Pua Loke St., Lihu‘e, (in the parking lot behind the Dept. of Agriculture. This annual plant sale in celebration of Hawai‘i’s Arbor Day.  marks 48 years since the first DOFAW plant sale was held in 1968.

Local floral enthusiasts and rare plant collectors look forward to the annual event, especially since DOFAW began offering federally listed threatened and endangered plants, native to Hawai‘i and used for the state’s conservation programs.

This year’s anniversary sale will feature the delicate red flowered koki‘o ‘ula (Hibiscus clayi) historically found in east facing dry forests of Nounou and Anahola mountains.  This rare hibiscus is endemic to Kaua‘i only, meaning it is found nowhere else in the world, and will bear a numbered tag for authenticity.

Other rare plant offerings will include the native white hibiscus from Kaua‘i’s north shore, Hibiscus waimeae variety hanarae and the miniature green flowered Hibiscadelphus distans also known as hau kuahiwi.

Arbor Day sale attendees will also find an assortment of common native plants available for sale including wili wili, a lowland, dry forest tree commonly found on the leeward sides of the island with reddish-orange seeds that were traditionally strung into handsome lei; kou, another lowland tree that prefers sunny, warm coastal areas and the versatile ‘a‘ali‘i which can be found growing from mauka to makai.  Other native plants available for sale are ‘akia, kulu‘i, maile, ma‘o, naupaka and pohinahina.

In addition to encouraging the use of native plants in home landscaping, DOFAW will offer for sale, puakenikeni (Fagraea berteroana), a non-invasive exotic ornamental tree cherished for its fragrant flowers used in lei making.

This is a great opportunity to support DOFAW’s programs on Kaua‘i and bring home plants to cultivate your native garden.

For more information, please call our DOFAW nursery at 241-3762.

# # #

Media contact:

Deborah Ward

DLNR Communications specialist

Phone: (808) 587-0320