Natural Areas of Hawaii

Native dune grass (akiaki) Native morning glory (pohuehue) Beach goers
Native plants and beach-goers at Kanaha Beach, Maui

Kanaha Beach Park

Kanaha Beach Park is a long stretch of publicly owned wild coast on the North Shore of Maui (Hawaii).   It is comprised of white sand beaches, coastal dunes, wetlands, and a developed beach park.   Kanaha Beach provides recreation for many folks on Maui, including windsurfers, surfers, kiteboarders, pole fishermen, divers, canoe paddlers, campers, joggers, bikers, general beach goers, and many others.   Kanaha Beach also supports some of the last remaining strongholds of native coastal plants and animals left on sand dunes and in wetlands along the north shore of Maui.

Volunteer

The beautification and restoration of Kanaha Beach has been on-going for decades, and is only possible with regular support from the community.   To volunteer to help Kanaha Beach, call Jan Dapitan at Community Work Day (808)877-2524, e-mail cwdkhb@pixi.com, or visit www.cwdhawaii.org.   For more volunteer opportunities on Maui visit www.hear.org/volunteer/maui.

The following have volunteered time, provided funding, or given resources:   Kiwanis, Kiwins, Girl Scouts, Boy scouts, Eagle scouts, Latter Day Saints, Jewish Congregation, Baldwin High School Science Club, Seabury Hall High School, Maui High School, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Americorps (local and national), Lae Ula o Kai Canoe Club, Kiteboarders Association of Maui, Maui Rotary, Goodfellow Construction, Hoolawa Farms, Maui County Public Works Department, Maui County Waste Water Treatment Department, Maui County Parks and Recreation Department, Maui County Correctional Center, Maui County Police Deptartment, Positive Outreach Initiative, State of Hawaii Emergency Environmental Workforce, United States Geological Survey Biological Resources Division, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Tri-Isle Resource Conservation and Development, and scores of other individuals, agencies, and organizations.

More Information

Map

Links

Native and Polynesian Plants of Kanaha Beach

There are over 30 plant species at Kanaha Beach that have traditional Hawaiian uses.   Kanaha Beach also has many rare and endangered species.   Kanaha Beach provides refuge for these plants, and today is one of the only places on Maui where these plants can still be found.   See also: Bishop Museum ethnobotany website
plant
AALII (Dodonaea viscosa)
Fruit clusters can be made into leis and used for dying kapa.  The strong wood can be used in house construction, agricultural tools, weapons, and fishing tools such as squid spears and lures.
plant
AHUAWA (Cyperus javanicus)
Fiber stripped from the stem can be used to strain awa and also spun into cord.
plant
AKIA (Wikstroemia uva-ursi)
The bark, roots, and leaves are a fish poison.  Bark also yields a fiber.
plant
AKIAKI (Sporobolus virginicus)
A coarse grass growing on sandy beaches.   Used to exorcise spirits.
plant
ALENA (Boerhavia repens)
The swollen roots were used medicinally, acting as a diuretic.   The tuberous root was also eaten as a famine food.
plant
ANAPANAPA (Colubrina asiatica)
The leaves form a lather in water and have long been used as soap on Pacific islands.
plant
AWEOWEO (Chenopodium oahuense)
The young plants, leaves, and plant tips can be used for greens, wrapped in ti leaves and cooked on hot coals.   The wood was used to make fish hooks.
plant
EMOLOA (Eragostis variabilis)
Used as a thatching grass.
plant
HALA (Pandanus tectorius)
Many uses including the leaves for mats, baskets, and hats ; the fruit sections for leis and brushes ; the male flowers to scent kapa, and the aerial root tip cooked in ti leaves as medicine.
plant
HAU (Hibiscus tiliaceus)
Wood can be used for outriggers on canoes, the bast for rope, and the sap and flowers for medicine.
plant
HINAHINA (Heliotropium anomalum)
Used for tea and medicine.   The lei flower of Kahoolawe.
plant
ILIAHI ALOE (Santalum ellipticum)
Shrub and tree with fragrant heartwood that was used to scent kapa.   The wood is also used in canoe construction.
plant
ILIMA (Sida fallax)
Flower used in leis, the lei flower of Oahu.   A mild laxative is made by squeezing out the juices of the flowers.
plant
KAUNAOA (Cuscuta sandwichiana)
The numerous slender orange stems can be made into orange lei, which is the lei flower of Lanai.
plant
KOALI AWA (Ipomoea indica)
When pounded the bitter-tasting stems and roots are used externally for bruises and broken bones , but are dangerous to take internally.
plant
KOU (Cordia subcordata)
The beautiful wood is soft but lasting.   It can be used for cups, dishes, and calabashes.
plant
LOULU (Pritchardia spp.)
Hats can be made from the leaves.   The leaf can also be used as an umbrella to protect against rain or sun.
plant
MAKALOA (Cyperus laevigatus)
The stems of the plants can be used to make the fine Niihau mats.
plant
MAO (Gossypium tomentosum)
Leaves can be used to make green dye and the flower petals to make yellow dye.
plant
MILO (Thespesia populnea)
Many using including tree for shade, wood for calabashes, and other parts of the tree for medicine,dye, oil, and gum.
plant
NAIO (Myoporum sandwicense)
Dark yellow-green wood, scented like sandalwood.   Used as posts in house construction and as fishing tools.
plant
NAUPAKA (Scaevola taccada)
The bark can be used to treat skin diseases.   The leaves can be used for indigestion.   The berries are edible.
plant
NIU (Cocos nucifera)
All parts of the tree can be used.   The "nut" provides food and water.   The leaves can be weaved.   The wood can be carved.
plant
OHELO KAI (Lycium sandwicense)
The salty berries are sometimes eaten.
plant
PAU O HIIAKA (Jacquemontia ovalifolia)
Stems and leaves used as a cathartic and for treating thrush.   The vine that protected Hiiaka from the sun while Pele was fishing.
plant
POHINAHINA (Vitex rotundifolia)
The leaves are fragrant.   Can be used medicinally.
plant
POHUEHUE (Ipomoea pes-caprae)
The vines can be used to drive fish into nets or to make the sea rough for surfing.   The roots, stems, and seeds can be used for medicine, though poisonous in large amounts.
plant
POPOLO (Solanum americanum)
The young shoots and leaves can be eaten as greens.   The plant can be used for medicine and ceremonies.
plant
UHALOA (Waltheria indica)
Leaves and inner bark of root are very bitter and are used for tea or chewed to relieve sore throat.   One of the plant forms of the pig demigod Kamapuaa.
plant
WILIWILI (Erythrina sandwicensis)
Seeds and flowers used for leis.   Wood very light and used for surfboards, canoe outriggers, and net floats.
ohai
OHAI (Sesbania tomentosa)
An endangered species. Known only from a few spots in the wild on Maui. The Kanaha Beach plants come from remnant plants on West Maui.
popolo
POPOLO (Solanum nelsonii)
Extinct on Maui. Kanaha Beach plants come from remnant plants at Ilio Pt., Molokai.
ihi
IHI (Portulaca molokiniensis)
An rare native species. Plants at Kanaha Beach are from plants on molokini.
bacopa
BACOPA (Bacopa monnieri)
Common in the freshwater wetlands at Kanaha Beach.
hao
HAO (Rauvolfia sandwicensis)
Coastal tree.
iliee
ILIEE (Plumbago zeylanica)
Native understory herb.

Native Insects of Kanaha Beach

10% of the insects found at Kanaha Beach are native, and many of these can found no where else in the world.   Below are images and brief notes for a few of the native insects that call Kanaha Beach home.
insect
LONG HORNED BEETLE
(Plagithmysus kahului)
A newly discovered species of wood boring beetle that feeds on decaying wood of a native shrub, aweoweo (Chenopodium oahuense).  This native beetle is known only from Kanaha Beach and Kahului Airport.  Females are black, males are light green.
Scientific article describing species
insect
BLACKBURN HAWK MOTH
(Manduca blackburni)
Feeds on plants in the Solanaceae (tomato) family.   Designated as an endangered species by the USFWS.   Much of Kanaha Beach is designated critical habitat by the USFWS for this species.
insect
HYPOSMOCOMA MOTHS
(Hyposmocoma sp.)
Six new species recently found in the Kanaha Beach area.   Often form bag like cocoons.   The genus, with over 350 species, is one of the best examples of adaptive radiation in the world.
insect
YELLOW FACED BEES
(Hylaeus sp.)
Solitary bees which are pollinators of many native plants.  Seen here on ilima (Sida fallax).
insect
KOA BUG
(Coleotichus blackburniae)
Hosts include aalii (Dodonaea viscosa), koa (Acacia koa), and dwarf koa (Acacia koaia).  The largest and most conspicuous native Hawaiian true bug.
insect
MOTH
(Mestolobes minuscula)
Observed at dusk visiting  flowers of native plants such as ilima and naio (Myoporum sandwicense).
insect
COCONUT LEAF ROLLER
(Omiodes blackburni)
Hosts on coconut, Pritchardia spp., and other palms.  Larvae feed on leaves, then sews them together to pupate.  Abundant some years after rains.
insect
GRASS LEAF ROLLER
(Omiodes continuatalis)
Hosts on pili (Heteropogon contortus) and other grasses.  Thought to be extinct at one time, now commonly found.
insect
GRASS LEAF ROLLER
(Omiodes demaratalis)
Hosts on grasses, such as Panicum spp. and akiaki (Sporobolus virginicus).  Recently found on Kahoolawe on out-planted akiaki.
insect
LEAF ROLLER MOTH
(Omiodes localis)
Feeds on nectar of native flowers and pollinates native plants.
insect
MOTH
(Orthomecyna exigua)
Feeds on nectar of native flowers and pollinates native plants.
insect
KOA BUTTERFLY
(Udara blackburni)
Hosts on aalii, koaia, and koa.  One of only two native Hawaiian butterflies.

Birds of Kanaha Beach

Images from Yahoo.

Though not a hard core birding destination, Kanaha Beach Park is occassionally visited by native seabirds, waterbirds, and seasonal migrants.   There are also many lowland introduced birds.   The birds can be found on the sand dunes, in the scattered coastal wetlands, and in the developed beach park.   Endangered Hawaiian stilts (aeo) can be found in the restored seasonal wetlands of Kanaha Beach after heavy rains raise the water levels in nearby Kanaha Pond.   Endangered Hawaiian coots (alae keokeo) and Hawaiian ducks (koloa) can be seen in the canal that empties into the ocean at Kaa point.   Kanaha Beach is a release sight for native seabirds that become grounded.
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Wedge-tailed shearwater (Uau kani)
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Great frigate bird (Iwa)
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Black Noddy (Noio)
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Black-crowned night-heron (Aukuu)
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Hawaiian duck (Koloa)
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Hawaiian coot (Alae keokeo)
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Hawaiian stilt, (Aeo)
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Pacific golden-plover (Kolea)
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Ruddy turnstone (Akekeke)
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Sanderling (Hunakai)
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Wandering tattler (Ulili)
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Gulls
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Hawaiian owl (Pueo)
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Barn owl
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Gray francolin
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Red junglefowl (Moa)
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Cattle egret
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Japanese white-eye
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Spotted dove
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Rock dove
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Zebra dove
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Common myna
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Northern mockingbird
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Northern cardinal
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Red-crested cardinal
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
House sparrow
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
House finch
Birds known from Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Java sparrow



Fish of Kanaha Beach

Images from Yahoo.   List of species from Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative.
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Eyestripe surgeonfish - Palani
(Acanthurus dussumieri)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Whitebar surgeonfish - Maiko
(Acanthurus leucopareius)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Lavender tang - Maiii
(Acanthurus nigrofuscus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Orangeband surgeonfish - Naenae
(Acanthurus olivaceus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Convict tang - Manini
(Acanthurus triostegus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Pearl wrasse
(Anampses cuvier)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Green jobfish
(Aprion virescens)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Hawaiian hogfish - Aawa
(Bodianus bilunulatus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Stareye parrotfish
(Calotomus carolinus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Whitespotted filefish
(Cantherhines dumerilii)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Sandwich isle filefish - Oili lepa
(Cantherhines sandwichiensis)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Hawaiian whitespotted toby
(Canthigaster jactator)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Potter's angelfish
(Centropyge potteri)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Blue dot grouper
(Cephalopholis argus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Fourspot butterflyfish
(Chaetodon quadrimaculatus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Teardrop butterflyfish
(Chaetodon unimaculatus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Oval chromis
(Chromis ovalis)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Blackfin chromis
(Chromis vanderbilti)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Blood red hawkfish
(Cirrhitops fasciatus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Stocky hawkfish
(Cirrhitus pinnulatus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Scarface blenny
(Cirripectes vanderbilti)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Elegant coris
(Coris venusta)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Ornate wrasse - Hilu
(Halichoeres ornatissimus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Chub
(Kyphosus species)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Potter's wrasse
(Macropharyngodon geoffroyi)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Spotted trunkfish - Moa
(Ostracion meleagris)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Two-spot wrasse
(Oxycheilinus bimaculatus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Arc-eye hawkfish - Pilikoa
(Paracirrhites arcatus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Doublebar goatfish - Munu
(Parupeneus bifasciatus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Ewa fangblenny
(Plagiotremus ewaensis)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Sabretooth blenny
(Plagiotremus goslinei)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Brighteye damselfish
(Plectroglyphidodon imparipennis)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Blue-eye damselfish
(Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Smalltail wrasse
(Pseudojuloides cerasinus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Reef triggerfish
Humuhumunukunukuapuaa
(Rhinecanthus rectangulus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Common parrotfish
(Scarus psittacus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Pacific gregory
(Stegastes fasciolatus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Belted wrasse - Omaka
(Stethojulis balteata)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Masked triggerfish
(Sufflamen fraenatus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Variegated lizardfish
(Synodus variegatus)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Blacktail wrasse - Hinalea luahine
(Thalassoma ballieui)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Saddle wrasse - Hinalea lauwili
(Thalassoma duperrey)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Christmas wrasse
(Thalassoma trilobatum)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Moorish idol - Kihikihi
(Zanclus cornutus)



Corals of Kanaha Beach

Images from Yahoo.   List of species from Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative.
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Rice coral
(Montipora capitata)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Blue rice coral
(Montipora flabellata)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Ringed rice coral
(Montipora patula)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Branching rice coral
(Montipora studeri)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Porkchop coral
(Pavona duerdeni)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
False brain coral
(Pavona varians)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Lace coral
(Pocillopora damicornis)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Cauliflower coral
(Pocillopora meandrina)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Finger coral
(Porites compressa)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Lobe coral
(Porites lobata)



Limu of Kanaha Beach

Images from Yahoo.   List of species from Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative.

Kanaha Beach is rich with native and non-native limu (marine algae).   The limu is utilized locally as food.   See also: Common Limu of Hawaii.
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Acanthophora
(Acanthophora sp.)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Spiny seaweed
(Acanthophora spicifera)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Limu akiaki
(Ahnfeltiopsis coccina)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Limu kohu
(Asparagopsis taxiformis)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Bryopsis
(Bryopsis sp.)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Ceramium
(Ceramium clarionensis)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Ceramium
(Ceramium dumosertum)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Cladophora
(Cladophora vagabunda)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Limu wawaeiole
(Codium edule)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Limu wawaeiole
(Codium sp.)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Galaxaura
(Galaxaura acuncinata)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Galaxaura
(Galaxaura sp.)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish

Gibsmithia
(Gibsmithia hawaiiensis)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Gloiocladia
(Gloiocladia iyoensis)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Ogo
(Gracilaria sp.)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Halimeda
(Halimeda discoidea)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Halimeda
(Halimeda opuntia)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Halymenia
(Halymenia sp.)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Heterosiphonia
(Heterosiphonia sp.)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Hypoglossum
(Hypoglossum sp.)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Jania
(Jania adhaerens)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Jania
(Jania sp.)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Limu maneoneo
(Laurencia cartilaginea)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Limu maneoneo
(Laurencia doty)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Limu maneoneo
(Laurencia majuscula)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Limu maneoneo
(Laurencia sp.)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Neomartensia
(Neomartensia flabelliformis)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Neomeris
(Neomeris vanbosseae)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Ossiella
(Ossiella pacifica)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Pleonosporium
(Pleonosporium sp.)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Polysiphonia
(Polysiphonia sp.)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Ptilocladia
(Ptilocladia sp.)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish

(Sphacelaria novae-hollandiae)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Sphacelaria
(Sphacelaria sp.)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Spyridia
(Spyridia filamentosa)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Trichogloea
(Trichogloea requienii)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Tricleocarpa
(Tricleocarpa fragilis)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Limu kala
(Turbinaria ornata)
Kanaha Beach Park Fish
Limu palahalaha
(Ulva fasciata)




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Comments? Questions? Send e-mail to: starrimages@hear.org.
This page was created on 25 May 2003 by Starr, and was last updated on 06 March 2008 by Starr.
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