Native or Not?
Simply put, a native species is any creature that got to the Hawaiian Islands without the help of humans. They did this in one of three ways: by Wind, by floating over the ocean Waves, or by flying over using Wings (or being stuck on a bird’s feathers). We call these the three Ws.
If you are unsure about the origins of your subject, contact us by email or phone (573-6999) and we’ll help you out. You can also do some research on your own, via the internet, or your local library. We made a list below of our favorite places to look on the web and in books to help you out.
Where to Go for Inspiration
EMWP guided art hikes into TNC’s Waikamoi Preserve
Many popular hikes on Maui are actually altered habitats with little or no native wildlife. Come on a hike with us and travel back in time to a place filled with the plants, birds, and insects that make Maui unique.
Anna Davis and Erica Danielle Franz taking photos in TNCʻs Waikamoi Preserve
Call 573-6999 to sign up your group for an EMWP hike. Continue to check back for artist specific hike dates a few months before the event. You may call us at anytime to set up a hike for your community group or school.
Teachers! Get your students involved
Are you thinking of getting your class involved in this year’s Mālama Wao Akua art contest? We hope so!
Here are some tips that might help! Remember, there is a $5 entry fee for all entries in the keiki division. Not all artwork entered will be selected for the show. This is a CONTEST.
- Consider having a contest within your class or school first, then enter the winning pieces from your contest to compete with the entries from other schools and individuals.
- Invite EMWP to come as a guest speaker.
We will give a presentation about Hawaiian rainforest ecology. Students build a watershed. Time: 60-90 minutes (flexible). - Check to make sure your students’ entries qualify.
Native birds, insects, plants or landscape of native species of Maui are OK. Coral reef species OK too. Polynesian introductions and other non-native species are NOT OK. - Have entries display ready.
Books
Try your local bookstore and look in the Hawaiiana or Natural History sections. Below are some exceptional books with great pictures and interpretive text. Make sure to check if the species is Native to Maui, Lāna’i, Kaho’olawe or Molokaʻi islands.
Forested Areas: Ferns of Hawaiʻi by Kathy Valier Growing Hawaiʻi’s Native Plants by Kerin Lileeng Rosenberger Hawaiʻi’s Native Plants by Bruce A. Bohm Remains of a Rainbow: Rare Plants and Animals of Hawaiʻi by David Liittschwager and Susan Middleton Wao Akua by Frank Stewart Marine Areas: Corals of Hawaiʻi by Douglas Fenner Hawaiʻi’s Sea Creatures: A Guide to Hawaii’s Marine Invertebrates by John P. Hoover Hawaiian Reef Fishes by John P. Hoover Hawaiian Reef Plants by John M. HuismanPlaces to go
Other places you can hike or visit to that have interpretive information and native species:
Haleakalā National Park
Hawaiʻi Nature Center
Kealia and Kanaha Ponds
Maui Nui Botanical Gardens
Maui Ocean Center
Nā Ala Hele
Sites to surf
Birds of a Feather
An article with pictures of native Hawaiian birds
Hear.org
Over 3,000 images of plants found in Hawaiʻi. Not all are native so be sure to check on the page if it is listed as native or not.
Jack Jeffrey’s Photos
Brilliant photographs by this wildlife biologist and photographer
Mike Neal’s Photos
Artist and photographer’s collection of native bird photos and more
Native Hawaiian Plant Websites
A list of sites put together by the University of HI, Manoa
Native Hawaiian Plant Society
Learn about native plants, and volunteer for service trips
NativeHawaiianFlora.com
Native Hawaiian Plant Photography by Jupiter Neilsen
Visit these beautiful plant nursery’s that sell native plants. Websites have pictures, and you may be able to ask for a tour.
