'Ohai: a native Hawaiian endangered plant ideal for dry landscapes.
In the Northwest Islands ʻohai is found on Necker (Mokumanamana) and is a rather common component in the shrubland on Nīhoa (Moku Manu). ʻOhai (Sesbania tomentosa) is an endemic member of the Pea family (Fabaceae).
'Ōhi'a lehua is endemic to the six largest islands of Hawai'i and is the most common native Hawaiian tree, comprising 80% of Hawaii's native forests. It is a member of the Myrtaceae family.
Common Native Plants
| ʻĀkala | ʻOhelo | ʻŌhiʻa lehua |
|---|---|---|
| Hāpuʻu | Hau | ʻŌhiʻa ha |
| Koa | Kokiʻo ʻulaʻula | Loulu |
| Maile | Māmaki | Naio |
| Naupaka kahakai | Olonā | Pāpala kēpau |
Early use of the term “Hawaiian” referred to the people of Hawai'i and “Native Hawaiian” refers to the indigenous people of Hawai'i, many of whom self-identify as Kānaka 'Ōiwi (“native people” or literally “people of the ancestral bone”) or Kānaka Maoli (“real people”) or as part of the Lāhui (“Nation”).
There may now be as few as 5,000 pure-blood Native Hawaiians remaining in the world. Hawaiians are not named for the state (think Californians, New Yorkers, Texans, etc). Unlike these other states, Hawai'i is named after its native people. Living in Hawai'i doesn't make you Hawaiian, it makes you a resident of Hawai'i.