Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray, Asteraceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Japanese sunflower, Mexican sunflower, shrub sunflower, sunflower, tree marigold

French: fleur de la fête des Mères, petite fleur soleil

Maori (Cook Islands): kavakava, pua renga, tiare rengarenga

Niuean: matalā, matalaa

Spanish: jícama

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Stout shrubby herb or shrub 2-3 m tall; stoloniferous; leaves mostly subovate, acute, serrate, 10-40 cm long, long (2-10 cm) petiolate, simple or mostly 3-7-lobed with acute serrate lobes, somewhat glandular, slightly grayish beneath, puberulent on both surfaces; petiole slightly bilobed at base; peduncles 10-30 cm long; heads large and showy, 5-15 cm wide; involucre of bracts in 4 series; ray-florets about 12-15, with yellow ligules to 6 cm long; achenes cuneate, 4-angled, appressed-puberulent, 5 mm long, 2-awned" (Stone, 1970; p. 586).

"Grande herbacée pérenne dressée à base ligneuse, de 1,5 à 5 m de hauteur, reconnaissable à ses grandes feuilles à 3 à 5 lobes, légèrement poilues, ses inflorescences (capitules) solitaires composées de fleurs à corolle jaune vif à orange, et ses petits fruits secs (akènes) noirs et quadrangulaires avec un pappus formé de petites écailles soudées et de deux arêtes" (Meyer, 2008; p. 39).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, naturalized in low elevation sites (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 369-370).  Naturalized along roadsides and other disturbed areas on Niue (Space & Flynn, 2000).  In Fiji, "found near sea level as a naturalized garden escape along roadsides and in open waste places"  (Smith, 1991; pp. 279-280). In New Caledonia, "peu cultivé mais paraît sporadiquement en peuplements importants de durée limitée" (MacKee, 1994; p. 39).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Mexico and Central America.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Chile (Rapa Nui Island) Rapa Nui (Easter) Island	Rapa Nui (Easter) Island (Isla de Pasqua)	introduced invasive cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2008) (pp. 39, 43) "Nous l’avons vu plantée dans le village de Hanga Roa et en bordure de route où elle forme des fourrés denses" (Meyer, 2008; p. 39).
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 82007) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		McCormack, Gerald (2008)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		McCormack, Gerald (2008)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1928) (voucher ID: BISH 133125) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		McCormack, Gerald (2008)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island		McCormack, Gerald (2008)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2008)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 133124) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1979) (voucher ID: BISH 618513) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) Observed in survey, no herbarium record.
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 291)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ifalik (Ifaluk) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 291)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 279-280) Voucher cited: DA 10495
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 279-280) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 88, DA 10278, DA 11414, Bryan 199
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1924) (voucher ID: BISH 133130) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 1000346) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Marquesas Islands	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 81)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 94) "Potential invader".
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 81) Voucher cited: Florence 5010
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 574234) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 81) Voucher cited: Moore 705
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 19)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 81)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 492376) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 492780) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
French Polynesia Tubuai (Austral) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 550738) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
French Polynesia Tubuai (Austral) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 644122) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
French Polynesia Tubuai (Austral) Islands	Tubuai (Tupuai) Island	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 94) "Potential invader".
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 586) Voucher cited: Stone 4928 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 291)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1945) (voucher ID: BISH 133132) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1954) (voucher ID: BISH 133134) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 369-370) Voucher cited: Rock 12964 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 369-370)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 369-370)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 369-370)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Maré	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 39) Voucher cited: MacKee 25463 Spontané
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Ouvéa (Ouvea Atoll)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 39) Voucher cited: MacKee 18967 Spontané
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Tiga	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 39) Voucher cited: MacKee 45848 Spontané
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 100) "Potential invader".
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive cultivated	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 379) Peu cultivée mais paraît sporadiquement en peuplement important de durée limitée.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 39) Vouchers cited: Baumann 16058, MacKee 8154, MacKee 42514 Spontané
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 39) Voucher cited: Baumann 13901
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 69) Voucher cited: CHR 170492
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 12)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 6) Voucher: Flynn 6715 (PTBG)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A./Atherton, J. (1997) (p. 27)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 117) Voucher cited: Yuncker 9743 (BISH) "Common and weedy along roadsides and in plantations".
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 15)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 86)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 83)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 71)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1972) (voucher ID: BISH 100401) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 68)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 69)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 97)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 107)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (p. 32)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 363)
Costa Rica Costa Rica	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
El Salvador El Salvador	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Guatemala Guatemala	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Honduras Honduras	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 363)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced invasive	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 130)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Lavergne, Christophe (2006) "Cultivé/naturalisé"
Maldives Maldive Islands	Malè Atoll		Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 35)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 363)

Comments:  "The Tithonia diversifolia is becoming a terrible pest here [Aitutaki, Cook Islands]; it is just about everywhere, whether the land is cultivated or not, as long as the sun gets to it" (Bill Tschan, pers. com.).

Control: 

Chemical: 1.5% glyphosate in water reported to be effective (Richard Boon, communication to Aliens list server, 12 July 2000).

Additional information:
Information from the World Agroforestry Centre's AgroForestryTree Database.
Fact sheet from the Government of Queensland, Australia. (PDF format).

Additional online information about Tithonia diversifolia is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Tithonia diversifolia as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Tithonia diversifolia may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1924. Voucher specimen #BISH 133130 (Bryan Jr, E.H. 199).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1928. Voucher specimen #BISH 133125 (Graham, J. 14).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1929. Voucher specimen #BISH 133124 (Wilder, G.P. 880).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1945. Voucher specimen #BISH 133132 (Conover, J.T. 594).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1954. Voucher specimen #BISH 133134 (Fosberg, F.R. 35587).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1969. Voucher specimen #BISH 82007 (Stoddart, D.R. 2237).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1972. Voucher specimen #BISH 100401 (Whistler, W.A. W 120).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1979. Voucher specimen #BISH 618513 (Krauss, N. 1681).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 492780 (Florence, J. 3101).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1983. Voucher specimen #BISH 492376 (Florence, J. 5486).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1983. Voucher specimen #BISH 550738 (Florence, J. 5760).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1983. Voucher specimen #BISH 574234 (Florence, J. 5010).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1988. Voucher specimen #BISH 1000346 (W.L.Wagner 6243).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1992. Voucher specimen #BISH 644122 (Florene 11196).

Charles Darwin Foundation. 2008. Database inventory of introduced plant species in the rural and urban zones of Galapagos. Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos, Ecuador.

Charles Darwin Research Station. 2005. CDRS Herbarium records.

Fosberg, F. R. 1957. The Maldive Islands, Indian Ocean. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 58. Pacific Science Board, National Academy of Sciences, Washington. 37 pp.

Fosberg, F. R. 1997. Preliminary checklist of the flowering plants and ferns of the Society Islands. Ed. by David R. Stoddart. U. Cal. Berkeley.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1979. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian dicotyledonae. Micronesica 15:1-295.

Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe. 1996. Conséquences des introductions d'espèces animales et végétales sur la biodiversité en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Rev. Ecol. (Terre Vie) 51:375-401.

Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 391 pp.

Lavergne, Christophe. 2006. List des especes exotiques envahissantes a La Reunion. Unpublished manuscript (Excel file). .

Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. 2008. Flora of the Marquesas Islands. National Tropical Botanical Garden and the Smithsonian Institution. Online database.

MacKee, H. S. 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 164 p.

McCormack, Gerald. 2008. Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga.

Meyer, Jean-Yves. 2000. Preliminary review of the invasive plants in the Pacific islands (SPREP Member Countries). In: Sherley, G. (tech. ed.). Invasive species in the Pacific: A technical review and draft regional strategy. South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Samoa. 190 pp.

Meyer, Jean-Yves. 2007. Rapport de mission sur l'Ile d'Uvea (Wallis & Futuna) du 6 au 17 Novembre 2007: Inventaire preliminaire de la flore vasculaire secondaire [unpublished report]. Délégation à la Recherche, Ministère de l'Education, l'Enseignement Supérieur et la Recherche, B.P. 20981 Papeete, Tahiti, Polynésie française. 39 pp.

Meyer, Jean-Yves. 2008. Rapport de mission d'expertise a Rapa Nui du 02 au 11 Juin 2008: Plan d'action strategique pour lutter contre les plantes introduites envahissantes sur Rapa Nui (Île de pâques) [Strategic action plan to control invasive alien plants on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) [unpublished report]. Délégation à la Recherche, Ministère de l'Education, l'Enseignement supérieur et la Recherche, B.P. 20981 Papeete, Tahiti, Polynésie française. 62 pp. .

Smith, Albert C. 1991. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 5. 626 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2000. Report to the Government of Niue on invasive plant species of environmental concern.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 34 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2001. Report to the Kingdom of Tonga on invasive plant species of environmental concern.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 78 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of the Cook Islands on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 146 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of Samoa on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 83 pp.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate. 2004. Report to the Government of Niue and the United Nations Development Programme: Invasive plant species on Niue following Cyclone Heta. UNDP NIU/98/G31 - Niue Enabling Activity. 80 pp.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar. 2003. Report to the Republic of Palau on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 174 pp.

Stone, Benjamin C. 1970. The flora of Guam. Micronesica 6:1-659.

Swarbrick, J. T. 1997. Environmental weeds and exotic plants on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean: a report to Parks Australia. 101 pp. plus appendix.

Swarbrick, John T. 1997. Weeds of the Pacific Islands. Technical paper no. 209. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 124 pp.

Sykes, W. R. 1970. Contributions to the flora of Niue. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 200, Wellington. 321 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2009. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication. University of Hawai‘i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp. (two volumes).

Welsh, S. L. 1998. Flora Societensis: A summary revision of the flowering plants of the Society Islands. E.P.S. Inc., Orem, Utah. 420 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1988. Checklist of the weed flora of western Polynesia. Technical Paper No. 194, South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 69 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1990. Ethnobotany of the Cook Islands: The plants, their Maori names, and their uses. Allertonia 5(4):347-424.

Whistler, W. A./Atherton, J. 1997. Botanical survey of the Huvalu Forest Conservation Area, Niue. Unpublished technical report. 76 pp.

Yuncker, T. G. 1943. The flora of Niue Island. Bishop Mus. Bull. 178. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 126 pp.