DLNR’s Rare Plant Program highlights a curated selection of Hawaiʻi’s most critically imperiled native plant taxa—part of a broader list of 1,400 native vascular plants (~90% endemic), with 177 rare species profiled and managed under the State Wildlife Action Plan. Conservation efforts include surveys, population augmentation, monitoring, nursery propagation, and habitat protection (e.g., ungulate fencing).
Species investigation: Explore profile pages for species like Stenogyne bifida, pendant kihi fern, Hesperomannia oahuensis, and Cyanea heluensis; students research habitat, threats, and rescue measures.
Life-cycle case study: Study Cyanea heluensis—only one plant found, cloned, and reintroduced by PEPP and DOFAW teams.
Restoration simulation: Role-play scenarios in which students design recovery plans—seed banking, propagation, outplanting, and monitoring strategies.
Conservation impact mapping: Use GIS tools to map locations like Waiʻanae ridges where fence projects support species recovery and ecosystem health.
Plant conservation biology: understanding restoration tools—ex situ propagation, recolonization.
Endemism & habitat specificity: many species exist only on certain ridges, bogs, coastal cliffs.
Human-caused threats: feral ungulates, flooding, invasive competitors, stochastic events.
Collaborative conservation: DLNR, PEPP, Laukahi, Lyon Arboretum, USFWS joint efforts
