Lobelia gaudichaudii in the Koʻolau Mountains

Lobelia gaudichaudii in the Koʻolau Mountains

One of the amazing things to see in the Hawaiian biota are the spectacular flowers of Lobelia gaudichaudii. Lobelia gaudichaudii is endemic to the Koʻolau Mountains of Oʻahu and is known as the Koʻolau Range Lobelia or Gaudichaud’s Lobelia.  The plant was...
Pinao — Giant Hawaiian Dragonfly — on O‘ahu

Pinao — Giant Hawaiian Dragonfly — on O‘ahu

I was lucky to get some close up shots of the Piano or Giant Hawaiian Dragonfly — Anax strenuus. Also known as the Giant Hawaiian Darner, the dragonfly is said to be the largest in the United States.  The dragonfly has a wing span of about 4 inches which is...
Cyclosa Spiders in the Waiʻanae Mountains

Cyclosa Spiders in the Waiʻanae Mountains

I stumbled on a cute little round spider in the mesic forests of the Waiʻanae Mountains. While hiking though the Waiʻanae Kai Forest Reserve, an unusual spider web less than an inch across caught my attention.  The web was on the topside of an ʻalaʻa leaf —...
Akoko Planthoppers in the Native Forests

Akoko Planthoppers in the Native Forests

We searched the native forests of Oʻahu to look for ʻakoko planthoppers, a curious-looking insect with a distinctive horn on its forehead longer than the bug itself. The Hawaiian Islands are home to 22 species of ʻakoko — Chamaesyce — 15 of which are...
Kamehameha Butterflies in the Koa Forests

Kamehameha Butterflies in the Koa Forests

For the past several months I have been hiking to the koa forests of Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island to look for Kamehameha Butterflies. Kamehameha Butterflies (Vanessa tameamea) are one of only two butterfly species endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.  Known as “Lepelepe...
Koa Moth Explosion on Hawaiʻi Island

Koa Moth Explosion on Hawaiʻi Island

When I heard that a population explosion of koa moths was defoliating thousands of acres of koa forests on Hawaiʻi Island I had to see for myself. The Department of Land and Natural Resources announced on February 14, 2013 that an outbreak of koa looper moths was...