Native Plant Highlight & Poem: Hoi Kuahiwi
- Kai Garcia-Tobar & Toby Gordon
- Apr 7
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 8
Highlight
By Kai Garcia-Tobar
April is Native Hawaiian Plant Month, a time to spread awareness of the plethora of plants native to Hawai’i. In light of that, the native plant highlight for this posting is the endemic vine Hoi Kuahiwi (Smilax melastomifolia).
Scientific Roots
Hoi Kuahiwi comes from the genus Smilax, a species of largely thorny vines with distribution throughout the tropics and subtropics. The name Smilax comes from the Greek legend of a nymph named Smilax who transformed into a prickly vine that now bears that same name (1). The word melastomifolia means something along the lines of ‘leaves like that of the melastoma family’. Since many species in the smilax genus produce small fruits, Hoi Kuahiwi’s ancestors likely arrived in Hawai’i through the poop of migrating birds. Much like how the wiliwili lost the spines of its ancestor, so too did the Hoi Kuahiwi. Through the evolution of this plant in a place without predators, the Hoi Kuahiwi no longer required the spines that its ancestor had, and so lost them over time (2).
The Large, shiny leaves of Hoi Kuahiwi in the Kohala Mountains Fruits of Hoi Kuahiwi in Maui - Credit Forest and Kim Starr (5)
- Credit: Kai Garcia-Tobar.
Ecology
Hoi Kuahiwi fruits are eaten and thus dispersed by fruit-eating native birds, like the ‘Ōma’o and, historically, the Alalā. Hoi kuahiwi is pollinated by butterflies or moths (3) and is also the sole host to the moth Scotorythra ortharcha, which feeds exclusively on its leaves (2). Additionally, as a lower to mid-story plant, Hoi Kuahiwi benefits native wet forests by slowing down the flow of water and stabilizing soil through its tuberous roots.
Common growth habit, Kohala Mountains - Credit: Kai Garcia-Tobar. Flowers, Kohala Mountains - Credit: Kai Garcia-Tobar
Cultural Importance
Hoi Kuahiwi likely gained its name due to its resemblance to Hoi (Dioscorea bulbifera), a plant introduced and cultivated by Hawaiians. Assuming this, Hoi Kuahiwi’s name roughly translates to ‘Mountain Hoi’. Though there is little information regarding the historical use of Hoi Kuahiwi, it is widely recorded that Hawaiians used the roots of this plant during times of famine. Though its tuberous roots are not palatable, they are a valuable source of calories. Additionally, it is believed the vines were used to tie rafters in homes (4).
Old, discolored leaf, Kohala Mountains - Credit: Kai Garcia-Tobar
Threats
Hoi Kuahiwi is considered “Vulnerable” by NatureServe, meaning its populations are not entirely secure. Much like many other native plant species in Hawai’i, Hoi Kuahiwi faces threats of human development, drought, competition from invasive plants, and predation from invasive animals.
Sources
Poem
By Toby Gordon
Synthesizing sky and soil,
Mixing canopy and undergrowth with
Impeccable ease.
Lacing leaflets lead here and there,
A perfect map for going nowhere.
Xylem pumps liquid life through the slinky-like stem.
Meanwhile, heart-shaped leaves lend
Every morsel in the vicinity
Love.
All plants, tall and short, especially the trees,
Say “How wonderful it is to be draped in Hoi Kuahiwi.”
To some dry forest friends, this plant brings the fear
Of rain coming swift, for its leaves are a
Mirror, slick and shiny and sheer.
In contrast to the eye-satiating pigments
Found in the leaves, little white flowers peak
Out and offer a complementary beauty.
Little did you know, a fun comparison can be made,
It’s between the minuscule seeds and a fruit you may know.
Apricot, dried. So similar they look. Plant 'em, and you’ll see this wonderful vine grow.
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