Sidney and Minnie Kosasa Community Field Guide

KOSASA FIELD GUIDE An Identification Guide to Plants in the Neighborhood

T H I S G U I D E is designed to help explore, teach, and provide opportunities to learn about the many plants and features found throughout the developing Hawaiian forest of Barwick Playground.

As you discover this young, growing ecosystem, please walk with care and enjoy the various trails and hidden treasures found in nature! Look for wooden signs throughout the forest to help identify the plants around you.

Each sign has a number located on the top-left corner matching a plant in our guide.

The Sidney and Minnie Kosasa Community was named in honor of the parents of its generous lead donors, Dr. Thomas ’63 and Mi Kosasa and the Kosasa family. The project is being funded through philanthropic gifts from members of the Punahou community.

Shelby Ho and Andrew Nelson • Design by Julie Matsuo-Chun nativeplants.hawaii.edu • ctahr.hawaii.edu/hawnprop/plants • www.canoeplants.com data.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/ethnobotany.php © July 2017, All rights reserved

TREES

1

Mānele

H A W A I I A N

S O A P B E R R Y

Sapindus Saponaria

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

The black seeds were strung to make lei or necklace. The pulp of the fruit was used to shampoo hair or wash clothes.

INDIGENOUS TREE DECIDUOUS • One of the few native trees that will occasionally lose all their leaves.

• Produces white/cream flower sprays.

TREES

2

Lonomea

O ‘ A H U

S O A P B E R R Y

Sapindus Oahuensis

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

The black seeds were used for medicinal p ­ urposes and strung to make lei or necklace; the wood was used to make spears.

ENDEMIC TREE • Roundish or oval fruit smell like figs or raisins, but are not edible.

• The tree produces small, whitish flowers.

TREES

3

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

The hard wood was used for tools, boards for poi and kapa, canoes, and house construction. ­Medicine and lei making.

‘Ōhi‘a Lehua Metrosideros polymorpha

ENDEMIC TREE • The blossoms provide delicious nectar for native birds such as the ‘apapane and ‘i‘iwi. ‘Ōhi‘a with red blossoms, ‘ōhi‘a ‘ula‘ula or apane. ‘Ōhi‘a with yellow blossoms, Lehua Mamo.

• ‘Ōhi‘a Lehua is one of the first plants to emerge from fresh lava flow.

TREES

4

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Dyes, medicinal, lei. Spears, fishing tools crafted from the hard wood of the Alahe‘e.

Alahe‘e Psydrax Odorata

INDIGENOUS TREE OR SHRUB • Leaves are shiny.

• Alahe‘e in Hawaiian means “slippery like the he‘e ­(octopus).”

• Fragrance of the shrub is strong, especially in the ­morning.

TREES

5

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Wood was used for gunwales for canoes or boats. Outer layers of the fruit was used externally for sores.

Hō‘awa

Pittosporum confertiflorum

ENDEMIC TREE • The ‘alalā (Hawaiian Crow) used to feed on the hō‘awa, helping with the dispersal of seeds and the continued growth of the tree. The ‘alalā is currently extinct in the wild, making the p ­ opulation of hō‘awa very rare. An example of the interdependency of Hawaiian plants and animals in the ecosystem.

TREES

6

‘Ulu

B R E A D F R U I T

Artocarpus altilis

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Source of food and medicine, wood used for construction of house and household items. Kinolau for Kū and Haumea.

POLYNESIAN INTRODUCED TREE • Important plant to the Polynesian voyagers who brought it on the canoe with them. Widespread throughout Asia and the South Pacific.

• The fruit is actually thousands of little fruits growing around a core, forming a ball.

Pōkalakala

TREES

7

F A L S E

‘ O H E

Polyscias Racemosa, formerly Munroidendron Racemosum

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Unknown

ENDANGERED ENDEMIC TREE • Endemic to Kaua‘i.

• Birds such as the Mejiro sip nectar from the flowering ­raceme. Red Whiskered Bulbuls and Spotted Doves enjoy the ripened fruit. The fruits produce a light plum dye.

TREES

8

Native Loulu Palms

USES

Young fruit was eaten by early Hawaiians, similar to coconut.

Trunk was used to make spears.

Fronds were collected and used as “wings” to jump and glide to the ocean from many feet above.

Pritchardia hillebrandii and Pritchardia affinis

ENDEMIC TREE • Once commonly found on the northern coasts of ­Moloka‘i.

• Means “umbrella” because the leaves were used as ­protection against the sun and rain.

• The species Pritchardia affinis is endangered.

TREES

9

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Kukui nuts burned as a source of light. The bark, flowers, and nuts used as medicine. Lei-making. Bark used to dye kapa cloth. ‘Inamona, roasted kukui nuts with salt is a delicious seasoning.

Kukui

Aleurites moluccana

POLYNESIAN INTRODUCED TREE • Brought over as a seed by the Polynesian voyagers and now grows wild in the lower mountain forest area.

• The demi-god Kamapua‘a can take the form of a kukui tree.

TREES

10

USES

Used to make canoes, homes, surfboards. Wood is prized for it’s beauty and used to make canoes, homes, surfboards, musical ­instruments. Dark brown dye created from the bark.

Koa

Acacia Koa

ENDEMIC TREE • Largest endemic tree of Hawai‘i.

• One of the fastest growing native trees. Koa in hawaiian means brave, bold, or warrior.

• Distinctive features: thick, sickle-shaped “leaves” or phyllodes. ­Important habitat for native birds.

TREES

11

USES

Very popular for lei making.

Puakenikeni Fagraea berteriana

INTRODUCED TREE FROM SAMOA • Introduced for its sweet-smelling flowers.

TREES

12

Noni

I N D I A N

M U L B E R R Y

Morinda citrifolia

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

The bark of the noni tree was used as a red or yellow dye for kapa.

POLYNESIAN INTRODUCED TREE • Brought over by the Polynesians for medicinal ­purposes.

• The pungent smelling fruit can be fermented with the juices being used as a tonic for health ­maintenance and when ill.

TREES

13

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Leaves were plaited to create sails for canoes, household items.

Clothing, food, cordage, house construction, lei, medicine. Keys were used as paint brushes.

Hala

Pandanus tectorius

INDIGENOUS TREE • Female trees bear the pineapple-shaped fruit.

• Male flowers are very fragrant.

• An excellent plant for poor, salty, and sandy soils.

SHRUBS

14

Nānū / Nā‘ū

H A W A I I A N

G A R D E N I A

Gardenia brighamii

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Pulp of the flower was used to dye kapa a rich yellow dye for ali‘i. Fragrant flowers were used to make lei.

ENDANGERED ENDEMIC SHRUB • Naturally occurring trees exist only on La­­­ˉna‘i and Na­­­ˉna­­­ˉkuli Valley.

• Very rare plant near extinction.

SHRUBS

15

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Hardwood used for wa‘a and hale construction.

The seeds were boiled to make a red dye for kapa.

‘A‘ali‘i

Dodonaea viscosa

INDIGENOUS SHRUB • ‘A‘ali‘i can endure fires and is a pioneer plant.

• During a fire, seeds survive and plants will return to the burned areas.

SHRUBS

16 35

Koki‘o ke‘oke‘o W H I T E

H I B I S C U S

Hibiscus arnottianus

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

The bases of the buds of the flower were chewed and given to infants as a laxative.

ENDEMIC SHRUB • Grown for their beautiful flowers • It is one of two only known species of hibiscuses in the world to have fragrant flowers.

SHRUBS

17

‘Ēkaha

B I R D ‘ S

N E S T

F E R N

Asplenium nidus

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Medicinal for young ­children and infants. ‘Ēkaha were ceremonially planted to cover stumps after a tree had been felled for wa‘a making.

INDIGENOUS SHRUB • ‘Eˉ kaha is found as a terrestrial (plants that live on land), epiphyte (plants that get nutrients from air, rain), and lithophyte (plants that grow on rocks).

SHRUBS

18

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

‘Ohai flowers were a favorite for lei making.

‘Ohai

Sesbania tomentosa

ENDANGERED ENDEMIC SHRUB • A nitrogen fixing plant, providing nutrients not only to itself but other plants around it.

• Leaf color ranges from silvery to dark green.

SHRUBS

19

‘Awa K A V A

Piper methysticum

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

‘Awa is a sacred plant for prayer.

POLYNESIAN INTRODUCED SHRUB • The word ‘awa means bitter.

• The root is used as a sedative to calm and induce sleep.

SHRUBS

20

Ma‘o Hau Hele

N AT I V E

Y E L L O W

H I B I S C U S

Hibiscus brackenridgei

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Was planted as an ­ornamental shrub.

ENDANGERED ENDEMIC SHRUB • Shallow root system and is prone to toppling over in high winds.

• Ma‘o Hau Hele is the state flower of Hawai‘i.

SHRUBS

21

Koki‘o ‘ula‘ula

H A W A I I A N

R E D

H I B I S C U S

Hibiscus kokio

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

The wood was used to make charcoal. Kok‘io ‘ula‘ula were grown near homes because of their beautiful red ornamental flowers. Flowers used to make lei and for medicinal purposes.

ENDEMIC SHRUB, AT RISK • Flowers bloom throughout the year.

• ‘ula‘ula means "deeper red".

SHRUBS

22

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

The starchy middle served as famine food. The pulu at the base of the frond was used as stuffing for pillows and mattresses.

Hāpu‘u Cibotium chamissoi

ENDEMIC TREE FERN • When a hāpu‘u falls, a gap of sunlight and a nurse log are created. Plants sprout on the moist bark of the hāpu‘u, helping reestablish the native forest. A favorite food for feral pigs.

• The pulu is used to line the nests of Hawaiian ­Honeycreepers.

SHRUBS

23

T I

Ki

L E A F

Cordyline terminalis

USES

Many uses for the plant: medicinal, wrappings for makana and food, apparel, decorative, lei.

POLYNESIAN INTRODUCED PLANT • A common but very special plant. • Ki is planted around homes, churches, schools for good luck.

SHRUBS

24

Dryland Kalo T A R O

Colocasia esculenta

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

The primary food of the Hawaiian people. All parts of kalo are eaten.

POLYNESIAN INTRODUCED PLANT • According to the Kumulipo, the creation chant, kalo grew from the first-born son of Wakea (sky father) and Papa (earth mother). The life of Hawaiians is linked to kalo. ­Currently: Two dryland varieties planted.

SHRUBS

25

‘Ape

E L E P H A N T S

E A R

Alocasia macrorrhiz

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

‘Ape only eaten in times of famine. Juice from freshly cut stems used to soothe irritated skin.

POLYNESIAN INTRODUCED PLANT • Related to and resembles a large kalo plant.

• Leaves point upward as opposed to kalo that generally point d ­ ownwards.

SHRUBS

26

F A L S E

Naio

S A N D A LW O O D

Myoporum sandwicense

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Early Hawaiians used the wood in home ­construction

ENDEMIC SHRUB • Naio was named False Sandalwood during the ­sandalwood trading boom of the 1810s.

• Traders attempted to pass naio as real sandalwood, ‘iliahi, but were unsuccessful and naio became known as false sandalwood.

SHRUBS

27

‘Awapuhi Kuahiwi S H A M P O O

G I N G E R

Zingiber zerumbet

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Used as medicine to ease indigestion, sprains. ­Fragrant leaves and leaf stalks used in the imu.

POLYNESIAN INTRODUCED PLANT • Originated from India.

• Clear, slimy, fragrant juice that comes out of the flower can be used as a shampoo for the hair.

• From Autumn to Spring it is dormant and the leaf stalks die away.

GROUND COVER

28

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Black dye from burned grass, house construction, medicinal uses, stuffing for mattresses.

Pili

P I L I

G R A S S

Heteropogon contortus

INDIGENOUS GRASS • Pili in Hawaiian means “to cling or stick.”

GROUND COVER

29

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Medicinal uses. The sap was also used for tattoos.

‘Ilie‘e

Plumbago zeylanica

INDIGENOUS GROUNDCOVER • Good for stabilizing erosion.

GROUND COVER

30 35

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Natural dye for kapa. Lei making. Medicinal uses.

‘Uki ‘Uki Dianella sandwicensis

INDIGENOUS GROUNDCOVER • Some ‘uki ‘uki have striking blue-purple fruits used for dye.

GROUND COVER

31

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Medicinal. Flowers were used for making lei.

Hardwood used to create fishing tools. ‘Ūlei wood cut down to make ‘ō‘ō ihe for spear throwing games.

‘Ūlei

H A W A I I A N

R O S E

Osteomeles anthyllidifolia

GROUND COVER

34

INDIGENOUS SHRUB • ‘Ūlei are one of the few native Hawaiian plants that can often survive fires and resprout from stem bases.

GROUND COVER

32

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Stems were pounded until only fibers and created into very strong cordage used for deep water ­fishing and wa‘a rigging.­

‘Ahu‘awa Cyperus javanicus

INDIGENOUS GRASS-LIKE PLANT • Flood tolerant and can be used to control erosion along water banks.

• Leaves are very sharp.

GROUND COVER

34

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Unknown

‘Ae‘ae Bacopa monnieri

INDIGENOUS GROUND COVER • Can grow in water as well as wet, saturated soils.

• Roots can filter and clean water.

• Great habitat for invertebrates that are a food source for native w ­ aterfowl such as the alae ‘ula and alae ke‘o‘ke‘o.

• Used medicinally in India.

GROUND COVER

35

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Medicinal and important fern for making lei.

Palapalai Microlepia strigosa

INDIGENOUS FERN • Hay-scented fern.

• Often mentioned in mele and oli.

GROUND COVER

36

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Lei making.

Neke

Cyclosorus interruptus

INDIGENOUS FERN • One of the few ferns that enjoys full sun exposure.

• When cut or crushed, has a pleasant scent reminiscent of freshly mown hay.

GROUND COVER

37

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Lei making.

Kupukupu S W O R D

F E R N

Nephrolepis cordifolia

INDIGENOUS FERN • One of the first plants to appear on lava fields.

GROUND COVER

38

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Medicinal and lei making.

Pōhinahina Vitex rotundifolia

INDIGENOUS SHRUB • Po­­­­ˉhinahina is part of the Mint family (Lamiaceae).

The leaves are aromatic and have been described as having a similar scent as basil, mint, and fir trees.

GROUND COVER

39

EARLY HAWAIIAN USES

Medicinal, home ­construction, food, very popular for lei making.

‘Ilima Sida fallax

INDIGENOUS GROUNDCOVER • The official flower of the island of O‘ahu.

• Originally lei ‘ilima, or the royal lei, was reserved for ­royalty since they looked very much like the yellow feather lei worn only by ali‘i.

The Story of Frank Barwick The playground is named in honor of a remarkable man who served P ­ unahou for 38 years, from 1883 to 1921. Frank Barwick was his name.

His arrival in the Islands from England in 1881 is a fantastic tale in itself. Shipwrecked 2100 miles from Hilo, the 18-year-old Barwick sailed with 20 shipmates for 20 days in an open boat. He rarely spoke of the nearly ­unprecedented voyage—and it cured him of any desire to follow the sea.

In 1883, Frank was hired as a bus driver at Punahou, and won immediate, universal liking for his worth, dependability, kindliness and dry humor. Two years later his salary “was raised to $50 a month” and more responsibility was placed in his capable hands.

As time went on, the campus cry in any emergency, for any need, became: “Get Frank Barwick!” He had gone from shipwrecked sailor to bus driver, from supervisor of “boys’ outdoor duties” to master of dramatic stage s­ ettings and b ­ eloved superintendent of grounds.

High among his special triumphs in dramatic productions were the settings for the 75th anniversary pageant in 1916. To Punahou it seemed impossible to carry on any school affair without him.

And then, after 38 years of service, interrupted only by two brief visits to his home in England, Frank Barwick resigned from P ­ unahou.

In suitable recognition of his faithful service, trustees, alumni, students and teachers honored him with a “hookupu,” [a] friendly c­ eremony of ancient times. The gifts of aloha were many—a s­ ubstantial check, a lei of his favorite roses, an engraved resolution of thanks, and an album of campus views, including the many campus additions over which he had watched so carefully. Source: Punahou Archives