In Season

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

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.

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.

When foraging for plants to kindle romance, the love-struck Hawaiian had no further to look than the distinctive Hala tree.

Who are these carnivorous beauties?

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

Decorate your holiday table with a wreath of island flora featuring ‘ūlei.

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.

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.

Turmeric is prized around the world for its yellow color, bold flavor, and medicinal properties. When Polynesian voyagers first sailed to Hawai‘i, they brought the pungent herb with them.

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

Only around five hundred wild parrotbills exist today, in the remote rainforests of East Maui.

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

Hawaiians honor Lono, god of agriculture, during a four-month-long celebration called Makahiki.

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

Glowing creatures in Hawaii's seas light up the night.

Lobster season closes to allow Hawaiian spiny lobsters a chance to reproduce.

Some of Maui’s strangest flowers bloom in winter—though witnessing these living curiosities requires some effort and a sharp eye.

Maui's delicious lychee season spans the summer from May to August.

The story of Hawaiian sandalwood is a sad one, but it's not over yet.

‘Aki‘aki, also known as seashore rush grass, is an indigenous ground cover that thrives in salty, sun-blasted environments.

The volcano goddess Pele created the tallest mountains in Hawaii — Mauna Kea and Haleakala — but those peaks are also home to her snow goddess rivals.

When you enter the ocean this fall, remember that it’s not just the sharks’ home; it’s their nursery.

Trade winds are the prevailing gusts that blow across the tropics. But here in Hawai‘i, they’re mostly known for delivering perfect weather.

Take advantage of Maui’s warm summer nights by gazing up into the star speckled sky.

In 1962, biologists reintroduced several breeding pairs of nene to Haleakala National Park, and now around 300 nene call the park home. Nene goslings take up to three months learning to fly and need special attention during this vulnerable time.

Learn about hala trees (Pandanus tectorius), which are among Hawai‘i’s most recognizable and versatile native plants.