A Hawaiian native species is one that arrived here without the help of
humans (intentionally or by mistake). There are many plants and animals
that are often referred to as Hawaiian when they are actually native to
another part of the world.
A native Hawaiian species can be Endemic (found only in Hawai`i) or Indigenous (found in Hawai`i and elsewhere).
Hawai`i also has species known as Polynesian Introductions. These are plants or animals, native to other parts of the world, that were brought with the ancient settlers.
Most non-native species arrived in Hawai`i after Western contact. Most
plants and animals that are commonly seen here now are non-native.
Invasive or pest species are plants or animals that have become a
problem to Hawai`i. Many pest species have natural controls in their
native habitats, but run rampant in the Hawaiian ecosystems.
Pest species can spread harmful diseases, take over the native forests, and cause many other problems to our natural and agricultural resources.
Not all non-native species are pests.
We will divide the many species thought to be native to Hawai`i into four areas (Please use your back button to return to this no frames version table of contents page):
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Agricultural products (Food)
Most of the food products associated with Hawai`i are agricultural introductions by the early Polynesians or by the later American farmers. The foods of Hawaiian luau, coconut, banana, poi, breadfruit (and pig!) are food staples the Hawaiians brought with them from Tahiti. The 19th century American settlers cultivated and successfully marketed the pineapple and the sugarcane. All of these are not native.
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Birds
Brightly feathered jungle parrots, fancy crowned cockatoos...exotic birds of paradise: the native birds of Hawai`i...NOT! Imported as pets and sometimes pictured in tourist promotions, these birds are not native to Hawai`i and, unfortunately, if let loose, become a threat to Hawaii's real native environment. And as for any birds hanging around the city...well, see for yourself.
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Flowers and Plants
From Hawai`i with Aloha! Well, yes, but with all native? Actually, no. Many of the flowers used for the beautiful leis of Hawai`i are not native. Kukui trees? Introduced. The plumeria blossom behind the pretty wahine's ear? Non-native. Pleasingly scented, strikingly colorful, these plants are not all pests, but native? NOT!
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Pests
You might think these pests belong here. However, before human expansion, the isolated Hawaiian archipelago was too far from any other landmass to be accessible to the pests more commonly associated with exotic locales.
