Rescued from the brink of extinction, the hau kuahiwi is the 11 crown jewel of Kīpukapuaulu.

The rarest plant in Kīpukapuaulu is the hau kuahiwi (Hibiscadelphus giffardianus). This large-leaved, relatively small tree has long, curved flowers that suggest pollination by a curve-billed Hawaiian honeycreeper. In 1911, Joseph Rock was shown a single, cattle-ravaged hau kuahiwi plant on the edge of Kīpukapuaulu. He described it as a new species and commented that “it is unique among all Hawaiian plants, and the author is sorry to relate that nothing has been done to protect it.” Sadly, that lone tree died in the summer of 1930, but not before seeds were collected and propagated by volcano resident W.M. Giffard (for which this plant was named). Early records revealed that Giffard’s efforts successfully yielded at least one surviving tree, whose offspring were later replanted here between 1951–1964. By 2001, after continued propogation efforts, researchers were able to reintroduce more than 200 trees to both Kīpukapuaulu and Kīpuka Kī. These reintroduction projects continue today as part of an effort to stablilize many of the park’s rare plant species. Through combined efforts, many of these trees have survived and some have even set fruit—a recent recovery to be celebrated. In the last 10 years, over 1,000 individuals of 10 other rare plant species have been planted in Kīpukapuaulu. Although some of these species haven’t yet produced seedlings, many are thriving.

Some species continue to struggle for survival—challenges that resource specialists hope to solve by continuing to care for this– kuʻu ʻāina waokele pūlama–treasured island of forest. From the time of the ancient native Hawaiian practitioner, who believed this to be the home of their akua and ‘aumakua, to nearly a century of botanists and foresters, Kīpukapuaulu has captivated its visitors with its biological wonders, beauty, and tranquility. As Charles Kraebel, Assistant Superintendent of Forestry for the Territory of Hawai‘i, said in 1922, “There is always some otherwhere whose charms seem not to have been sufficiently heralded. Such a spot is the Kipuka Puaulu. . . .”