Protecting Hawaiian Native Plants: Cute-But Destructive?

Most people don’t know that Hawaii is the most endangered species capital of the world and is .02% land mass of the United States, but has ¼ of its endangered species. Protecting Hawaiian Native Plants means keeping the endangered plants in Hawaii safe. Also preserving it for future generations. However most of the Hawaiian plants are endemic and only found in Hawaii, nowhere else in the world. There are thousands of ways to protect the Hawaiian native plants, but one way to help protect the plants is to cut down on the invasive plants because they are a major problem for most native plants. This paper will explain the history, effects, and solutions about protecting Hawaiian Native Plants. First of all, the Hawaiian Native Plants were first
Originally given as gifts to the Hawaiian people, these domesticated animals eventually escaped and rapidly reproduced, creating large populations of wild goats that live in the semi-barren lava fields or mountain slopes of the islands. As with the introduction of other animals here to the Hawaiian islands that are not indigenous, the goat was introduced with the best of intentions. However, Hawaii’s delicate ecosystem proved to be no match for these animal unquenchable hunger. Wild goats, along with wild pigs, are responsible for the extinction of many native plants. And with the extinction of native plants comes the extinction of native wildlife.” This means before when Captain Cook came, they were no pigs or goats, but after his arrival many native plants died because of pigs and
For Example the Metrosideros polymorpha was used to make poi boards, weapons, tool handles, and statues. And also was a tree that had a big canopy that was used for shade and was a good place for birds to go on. Soin all the Ohia tree has many uses and is significant because the Hawaiians used that tree for wood supply. There is a fungus which is known as rapid Ohia death. The fungus has also gone on the other trees and the fungus can grow and invade easy in hawaii’s environment. Losing the Ohia tree will lead to the extinction of native Hawaiian birds because the Ohia tree is where the birds go and live and it’s also one of their important food sources. Also Hawaii will lose it’s forests because Ohia makes up 80% of the island forests than would result in invasive species taking over our native forests and loss of Hawaiian culture. The Hawaiian fruits that people eat are bananas, mangos, dragon fruit, coconut, pineapple ,etc. In Hawaii , native Hawaiian culture and native species continues to be practiced in belief systems as well as traditional practices such as gathering of native plants and animals for hula, traditional medicines, food, materials, carving, weaving, tool making, jewelry, and ceremonies. For native Hawaiians, the relationship with the land and native ecosystems is very significant to