Native Trees and Shrubs of the Hawaiian Islands

This extensive study gives botanical data about the trees and shrubs of Hawaii with a clarity that can be easily understood by everyone. The author describes the plants, gives common names, mainland equivalents—if there are any—and tells their uses in the changing world of the Pacific Islands. Woven into his narrative are also folk stories about the plants. Of the Naupaka, he writes: “Hawaiian legend says that the half flower came about when a scorned maiden grabbed a flower and tore it in half. She told her lover she would not see him again until he brought her a full flower, but he never did. From that time on, Naupakas have had only half a flower and the lover died of a broken heart.” 3