Located in back of the Niaulani Campus of
Volcano Art Center,
this half mile nature trail is a living example of the constant
battle that is being waged between
native plants and
invasive
species. in this fragile rain forest.
Before 1997, the entire seven acre parcel around this nature trail
had Himalayan kähili ginger growing wall-to-wall beneath the native
tree canopy. Ten-foot-tall, impenetrable thickets of South American
tibouchina (Glory Bush) breached the margins of the forest. The
dense, choking stands of ginger and tibouchina eliminated any
chance for native plant seedlings to become established and were
threatening some of exceptional trees and plants you will see on
this interpretative nature walk.
Now that kähili ginger and tibouchina are being controlled, native
plants are beginning to recover. The recovery of native flora not
only restores the biological diversity of the forest but also
preserves plants that are significant to Hawaiian culture.
The cache coordinates will bring you to an area that demonstrates
how this
noxious
weed must be be caged like a wild dangerous animal to be
contained. Once it is established it is virtually impossible to
eradicate. It should be noted that while this species is used as an
ornamental landscape plant in many more arid environments, all
Tibouchina species are considered noxious weeds in Hawaii because
of their high potential for becoming an invasive species.
If you do any hiking in Hawaii, you may have run across the little
foot brushes at trail heads. This cache area demonstrates what this
is all about, the prevention of imported invasive species taking
over areas like this. In the absence of a foot brushes, you can
still do your part as a visitor to areas like this and make certain
that your shoes and clothing are free of seeds or green
matter.
Please do not go off the trail and disturb any of the plants. If
we have reports of this happening we will archive this cache
immediately. If you take note of where the interpretive signs are
located it is easy to see where it is okay to walk. The cache is a
micro and you will find a green rectangular hint very close
to it. Please put your initials in the log and enjoy this unique
and special area.