In Season

In Season stories published in Maui Nō Ka ʻOi Magazine.

Silversword

Haleakalā Silverswords

Summer is the prime time to observe an only-on-Maui botanical phenomenon: the blooming of the Haleakalā silverswords.
hawaii butterfly, kamehameha

On The Wing

Entomologists fear this endemic butterfly, our official state insect, may be disappearing from forests.
hawaiian owl pueu

Hawaiian Owl: Love Is in the Air

Autumn is a thrilling time for Hawaiian owls and those who admire them.

Scented Souvenir

One of the sweetest Hawaiian traditions is the making and wearing of flower lei to celebrate people you love or places you’ve been.
hale pepe trees

Hula Tree

Among the most charismatic species in the Hawaiian dry-land forest, six different species of hala pepe trees exist — each one endemic to its own Hawaiian island.
Hawaiian petrels

Spring Serenade

In springtime, Hawaiian petrels, or ‘ua‘u, return after many months at sea to their underground nests atop Maui’s 10,023-foot-tall volcano.
persimmon

Persimmons

Known in Hawaii as kaki, persimmons were cultivated by Maui’s early Japanese farmers and continue to be harvested at a handful of family farms.
hau

Hau Lovely!

Hau blooms year-round, though its crepelike blossoms last for a single day.
Mao

The Right Stuff

Discover the endemic yellow mao blossom, its history, ancient and modern uses, and where to catch a glimpse of it right here on Maui.
sweet potato

‘Uala, the Globe-trotting Sweet Potato

The sweet potato, or ‘uala, is one of Polynesia’s most mysterious plants.
hawaii bananas

Ripe Treasure: Hawaiian Heirloom Bananas

By the time Westerners arrived, Hawaiians had developed at least forty-four distinct banana varieties.

Autumn Harvest

In Hawai‘i, the ipu (bottle gourd) ripens in the fall.
lobelia grayana

Behold the Lobelia

The Lobelia Grayana is an endangered lavender flower that grows in Waikamoi Preserve on Maui. Ancient Hawaiians called this plant opelu.
natal plum

Natal Plum

Get the recipe Natal Plum Holiday Relish for a new holiday tradition.
koli‘i

Koli‘i: The RuPaul of the Rain Forest

The native lobelia, koli'i spreads an umbrella of pink blossoms in late summer.
hawaiian cabbage

Cliff-dwelling Cabbages

From September to November, star-shaped blossoms emerge, releasing a marvelous perfume reminiscent of violets or honeysuckle.

Lono’s Light

This story explores ancient Hawaiian uses for the kukui nut, and the legends that surround it.
Hunakai Sanderlings

Wave Chasers: Sanderlings

Global populations of sanderlings numbers around 700,000—but only a few hundred hunakai call Hawai‘i home.
plover

Welcome Home, Kolea!

Every autumn, Hawai‘i welcomes home a beloved snowbird, the Pacific golden plover (Pluvialis fulva), known to Hawaiians as kolea.
Hawaiian Lightning

Divine Flash: Lightning

January and February is the best time to view lightning in Hawaiʻi.
wiliwili

Return of the Wiliwili

This native tree breaks all the rules. It grows on barren lava fields, loses its leaves in summer, and, faced with a deadly invasive pest, backed away from the brink of extinction.
kolea lau nui

Painting the Forest Red

The legends, information and uses of the kolea lau nui tree.
Kanawao Hydrangea

Kanawao: Hawai‘i’s Hydrangea

Beautiful and distinctive kanawao shrubs decorate rain forests across Hawai‘i.
Akule

Living Calligraphy

In spring, mature akule (big-eyed scad) congregate in sheltered Hawaiian bays. Historically, Hawaiian villages posted lookouts to watch for whenever a big akule school came near shore.
maui sea turtles

Turtle Tracks

Since 1996, volunteers have helped Hawaiian hawksbills turtles reach the ocean, and you can too.
shearwaters

Watch out for Wedgies!

Wedge-tailed shearwaters spend the majority of their lives at sea, where they feed on baitfish and squid. They return to Hawai'i each spring to nest.
Portuguese Man-O-War

Blue Tide

Who are these carnivorous beauties?

Maui Events & News

Imua Family Services’ Will Smith Discovery Garden

A World of Pure Imagination  Story by Savy Janssen Photographs by Jason Moore  Sunlight filtered through the outstretched arms of the 120-year-old monkey pod trees, and...

In Season

Becky's Backyard