Living on the Edge: Bringing Native Plants Back from the Brink of Extinction

Across the Hawaiian archipelago there are a total of ten species of Naupaka (in the genus Scaevola).  Of course, the one most people are familiar with is the Naupaka Kahakai (Scaevola taccada), which grows along the coast of all of the islands. Others might be aware of the Naupaka Kuahiwi, the eight species of Naupaka that grow in the mountains. A far less common species along the coast is the dwarf, or creeping, Naupaka (Scaevola coriacea). This beautiful, low and flat species is characterized by oval leaves, and like its close relatives, a half-flower. While it was once common in the sandy areas of Mauiʻs Nā Wai ʻEha, between Waiheʻe and Waikapū, and was once found on 6 islands across the archipelago, today there are fewer than 300 individual plants left, nearly all of them on Maui and on the offshore islets nearby.  

In 1988 and 1989, a botanical survey of the Waiheʻe dunes, discovered several specimens there.  Unfortunately, continued cattle grazing into the early 1990s resulted in their extirpation from the Waiheʻe Dunes. However, the nearby Waiehu Golf Course had a healthy remnant population of Creeping Naupaka. Soon after the Maui Coastal Land Trust purchased the Waiheʻe Coastal Dunes and Wetlands Refuge in 2004, Dr. Fern Duvall of the DLNRʻs Division of Forestry and Wildlife, called the Golf Course to ask if it would be possible to collect specimens to plant at the Waiheʻe Refuge at a later date. The Waiehu Golf Course graciously agreed. Not long after that call, Stephanie Seidman from the Maui Nui Botanical Garden, and Hank Oppenheimer from the Plant Extinction Prevention (PEP) Program collected over 100 specimens that would be grown out at the Botanical Garden for future planting at Waiheʻe Refuge. 

Everything went according to plan, and in November of 2006 the plants were ready to be planted at the Waiheʻe Refuge. Two populations were established, one on the dunes, and one in Kapoho, closer to the shoreline. While the creeping Naupaka planted in the dunes did not fare very well (the Mynah seemed to particularly attracted to the metal tags used to identify the plants, and ripped many of them out of the ground) and only a few remain, the population planted closer to the coast is thriving to this day. Several of these plants are clearly visible along the walking trail today, with one particular plant covering more than 60 square feet. The story of this plant demonstrates how a small group of dedicated individuals can take action to heal the land and protect our treasured natural heritage.  While there is still much work to be done, with the return of the Creeping Naupaka to Waiheʻe, we are one step closer to preventing the extinction of this laʻau makamae, (cherished plant).

— Dr. Scott Fisher

Creeping Naupaka outplanting on the Waiheʻe Dunes: Left to right Jack Hazen, a volunteer with Maui Nui Botanical Garden, Stephanie Seidman, Scott Fisher (back), James Crowe (front), and Hank Oppenheimer with shovel.