Lāʻau Letters: Native Plants of Kaʻū
By Jodie Rosam
Artwork by Joan Yoshioka
Aloha to all of the plant lovers of Kaʻū! Just to catch you up, Lāʻau Letters began in June of 2021 (during the post-covid, sight-unseen purchase boom), when I was heartbroken watching properties around Kaʻū with native plants on them get bulldozed. I was upset thinking no one cared, mad that nothing was being done to protect these species, and frustrated that it was happening in my community. But then I realized it was wrong of me to put blame or shame on the owner. I shifted my perspective, and rather than being upset, I saw an opportunity for me to share with our Kaʻū community just how special our native plant species are. And with the help of Julia Neal, I found the outlet. Lāʻau Letters was born from a deep sense of love, hoping that through these words, I could inspire just one person to establish a relationship with these plant people. One person who cares can share their love and knowledge with one more, and exponentially the good will spread through our community. E lawe i ke aʻo a mālama, a e ʻoi mau ka naʻauou (He who takes his teachings and applies them increases his knowledge, Mary Kawena Pukui, ʻŌlelo Noʻeau 328). Joan Yoshioka agreed to work with me to paint these species so fluently - we had creative freedom that just worked perfectly together, and what an honor it has been.
I want to call forward the stars these past four and a half years, and I encourage you to say their names aloud as you read them: ʻAʻaliʻi, ʻOhe Makai, Naio, Kaunaʻoa, Pōhuehiue, Lama, Wiliwili, Māmane, Pāʻū o Hiʻiaka, ʻŌhai, ʻŌhiʻa, ʻIlieʻe, Milo, ʻĀwikiwiki, Maiapilo, Kuluʻi, Pili, ʻIliahi, Hinahina, Hala Pepe, Pua Kala, Makaloa, ʻAuhuhu, Kauila, ʻIlima, ʻŌhelo Kai, Maua, Māmaki, Kupukupu, Koa, Loulu, ʻĀkala, ʻAmaʻu, Naupaka Kahakai, Naupaka Kuahiwi, Olomea, Maile, ʻIeʻie, ʻŌhelo Kau Lāʻau, Aʻe, Hoi Kuahiwi, ʻAhinahina, Kanawao, ʻŌlapa, Kūkawnēnē, ʻAlaʻalawainui, Pāpala, and Alaheʻe. Those are 49 new friends, new sources, new teachers. Please honor them, respect them, and do what you can to protect them.
Habitat loss and invasive species are the main threats to our native wildlife, and they need our help now more than ever. This can be as simple as fencing in your own native species if you have feral pigs, goats, or mouflon eating their way through your property, volunteering with a local organization doing conservation-related work, or advocating through legislative action to prioritize native species over invasive ones. We are a reflection of our environment — when it thrives, so will the lāhui. But when we lose endemic species, we lose a part of ourselves. Put in the work. Do the research.
I am humbled to share that this will be the final Lāʻau Letters column shared in this paper. Lāʻau Letters served a purpose. When I reflect on the past 4.5 years of writing, I am grateful I was able to do a monthly deep dive into what it is about these species that catches my eye, my nose, or my heart. Species to highlight were not chosen by me or Joan, they chose themselves. And recognizing how that happened time after time was a huge lesson for me. Though these articles have come to an end, don’t worry, I am not going anywhere! Many of you have reached out to me to ask questions, share photos, or even stories about your favorite species. Others have reached out to learn about volunteering opportunities in Kaʻū and beyond. Please continue to do so. My inbox is always open: jodie.rosam@gmail.com. Past columns will slowly but surely be uploaded here: https://www.wildhawaii.org/category/laau-letters-native-plants-of-kau/.
It has been an honor, friends. Please keep up the good work and great intentions. And remember, He Aliʻi Ka ʻĀina; He Kuawa ke Kanaka (The Land is Chief; Man is its Servant, Mary Kawena Pukui, ʻŌlelo Noʻeau 531). A hui hou!
Jodie and Joan
