Thursday, October 16, 2008

Museum Forest





"Growing on the lava fields of Auwahi land of Kahikinui, southern slopes of Mt. Haleakala, Maui; elevation 2600 feet,... about seven miles from Ulupalakua, is a small area of forest on the lava fields of Auwahi. Unpromising as it looks from the road, this forest is botanically, nevertheless, one of the richest in the territory".
~Joseph Rock in the year 1913

At the present time, the forest at Auwahi is sometimes described as a museum forest because so little of it remains as a result of severe degradation brought on by human activities and now without action is threatened with total extirpation on Maui.
" Auwahi is a biological and ethnobotanical treasure. Of the 50-odd species of rare Hawaiian trees found here, 41 species had specific Hawaiian ethnobotanical uses, 19 as medicines, 13 in making specific tools, 13 in canoe construction, eight in kapa making, eight to make widely ranging dye colors, and at least seven of the trees have religious significance. Without our efforts, all of these trees, their uses, their associated animals will all perish forever".
~http://www.hear.org/naturalareas/auwahi/index.html

The Auwahi Restoration Group is a coalition of private and public agencies and a group of concerned community citizens working together in a historic effort to try and save a Hawaiian forest by planting and weeding exclosures in order to "jumpstart" this unique ecosystem.

4 comments:

Marionette said...

Your photos of the forest in Maui are absolutely gorgeous! They really set an interesting mood. I have visited Haleakala and Ulupalakua before. I really love it up there. I also did a little hiking through the lava fields that come down from the mountain to the beach. It felt almost like being on another planet!

Much Aloha to you for sharing these wondeful images!

Aloha from Kauai,
Marionette
P.S. Thanks for following my blog!

Robin Pedrero said...

OMGosh! That tree in the center just stirs my soul!

Cymbaline said...

what awesome photos of paradise! i am off to check off your etsy shop, your mini looks gorgeous!

Smoky Glow Studios said...

Thank you all for your comments and for taking an interest in my blog. Its so nice to hear your encouraging comments, what an honor to exchange encouragement with such talented artists.
Arlene