Plant Species

Hāpuʻu pulu is native to most of the Hawaiian islands. It is one of more than 800 species of tree ferns, descendants of prehistoric vegetation found worldwide in semi-wet to wet forests from sea level to over 5,000 ft elevation.

Hāpuʻu pulu was once common in wetter areas of all the major Hawaiian islands. Until recently, large numbers of Hawaiian tree ferns were harvested for orchid media and landscape use. Over-exploitation has reduced häpu‘u stands drastically. Presently all tree ferns are considered threatened species, because so many of them are found only in the rapidly diminishing rainforests of the world. It is illegal to ship tree ferns or tree fern products internationally. This does not, however, protect tree ferns within a country from destruction. The last remaining large stands of native Hāpuʻu pulu are found on the island of Hawai‘i. Their numbers are being rapidly reduced by clearing and development, except in protected areas such as Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and Kīpahulu forest reserve in Haleakalā National Park.

Published by the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR)

‍