(Makawao Forest Reserve, Mau'i)
(Pu'uwa'awa'a Ranch, Hawai'i)
(Aiea Ridge Trail, O'ahu)
('Ohi'a-lehua HAVO, Hawai'i)
(Kahana Valley, O'ahu)
(Koke'e, Kaua'i)
(Na Pali Coast, Kaua'i)
BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Click on the thumbnails for a better and bigger picture!
PLANTS
At least 80 species of native vascular and non-vascular plants are associated with Acacia koa. Some examples are...
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| Dubautia
plantaginea
(Makawao Forest Reserve, Mau'i) |
Hibiscus
brackenridgei
(Pu'uwa'awa'a Ranch, Hawai'i) |
Freycinetia
arborea
(Aiea Ridge Trail, O'ahu) |
Metrosideros
polymorphia
('Ohi'a-lehua HAVO, Hawai'i) |
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| Pandanus
tectorius
(Kahana Valley, O'ahu) |
Sadleria
cyantheoides
(Koke'e, Kaua'i) |
Scaevola
glabra
(Na Pali Coast, Kaua'i) |
INSECTS
Koa serves as a host for numerous native insects. At least 2000 species of native insects are specific to or favor koa, for example...
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| Vanessa tamaeamea, Kamehameha Butterfly | Coleotichus blackburniae, Koa Bug | Plagithmysus varians, a wood borer | Udara blackburni, Blackburn's Butterfly |
LAND SNAILS
This photo of an Achatinella on a koa phyllode indicates that koa serves as a host for some endemic land snails.
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| Waianae kai, O'ahu |
BIRDS
Most of the remaining native forest birds find refuge in montane koa-'ohi'a-lehua forests relying on koa for nesting habitats and/or for a food source, either directly or indirectly. Examples include...
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| 'Akiapola'au, dependent on insects associated with koa for its food | 'Alala, nests and forages in koa for food | 'Amakihi, frequents leafy branches and picks bark of koa searching for insects. | Pueo, hunts rodents in open koa forests. |
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| 'I'iwi, insects found on koa serve as a secondary food source. | 'Io, searches in koa dryland forest for prey | Maui Parrotbill, forages in koa for insects. | A map showing the association of koa forest with native forest bird distribution. |