Lesson 6: Napua O Wao Lama O Kekaha—Dryland Forest Flowers

Native Flowers:  Napua o Wao Lama o Kekaha—is a 5’ x 10’ canvas mural painted by Ka’ūpūlehu & Kealakehe dryland forest hui mālama `āina (stewardship group) ages 7 to 60.  This group included kama’āina, lineal descendants, community members, educators, scientists, botanists, and ecologists. A smaller version of the mural has become an essential learning tool in the forest. It is offered here with a few suggested activities as a way to bring the forest to you. This mural does not include all dryland flowers, but it does have many of the flowers of the Ka`ūpūlehu and Kealakehe dryland forests in the Kekaha region of Kona. A list of the artists, partners, and funding support is provided below in Activity 6. This learning opportunity is brought to you by the Ho’ola Ka Makana`ā and Hui Mālama Kama`āina programs of HFI, HFIA, KS-Aina Ulu and DHHL. Enjoy the learning activities listed below the illustration with numbered flowers.

Small Mural Key
LESSON 6 ACTIVITIES
      1. Native names
        Native plants of these islands were first given names by the first people—the Kanaka maoli (Hawaiians). Match the number on the flower to the Hawaiian name of the plant. Use the “Gallery” photographs to help you. Write the Hawaiian name of the plant next to the correct number on a piece of paper. The following link will give you clues whether it is a tree, shrub, or vine :  Clues to Mural Plants
        (Note: The flowers are not drawn to scale. Some flowers such as the one on the vine numbered 31, are extremely small in real life, much smaller than the berry or fruit that forms, and difficult to see. Flowers are enlarged here to show their form and beauty.) 

      2. Name the vines. 
        If you don’t have time to identify all the flowers, name the vines that are painted at the bottom of the mural. Using the Vines Lesson 2 on this website, and the “Gallery” see if you can name the vines numbered 2, 13, 31 and 30.
         
      3. Vine bonus question. 
        Vine number 12 is an endangered vine and its first name has been forgotten to date; can you find its Latin botanical name? Clue: It’s in the Koali or Morning glory family
         
      4. More than one name. 
        Sometimes Hawaiians gave more than one name to the same plant depending upon its use; line of learning, or regional differences. We have listed the most commonly used Hawaiian names from Hawai`i island. For example: Lama is the most commonly used name for an extremely slow growing and revered tree.  However, kupuna (elders) of the North Kona, Pu`u Wa`awa`a region refer to this tree as Ēama. See if you can find the flower and fruits of this tree on the mural.
         
      5. Endangered Species.  
        Part One. What does it mean to have a plant on the “endangered species list”? Use the following link to learn what it means to be on the “endangered species list”:  Endangered Species   Part Two. Some of the flowers on the mural are “endangered species”. See if you can name any of these endangered Hawaiian plants on the mural from left to right: 19, 22, 24, 4, 5, 25. Note: Less than 10% of the dryland forest in Hawaiʻi remains and so the entire ecosystem is at risk of disappearing. It is important to focus and care for the wellness of all the native plants of the dryland forest ʻohana and the interconnected ʻāina: the land, waters, skies, and other living species.
         
      6. Working together made this possible. Learn how this project began and who made it possible, including photographs of the mural in the making, credits and a list of funders: About the Mural.
         
      7. Second Hawaiian Names of Two Endangered Plants.Flower number 4 is named Hau hele ʻula and is especially significant to Kaʻūpūlehu dryland forest. Flower number 27, named Aupaka is very significant to LaʻiʻŌpua at Kealakehe. Each has a second Hawaiian name. Find out the names. The answer can be found by reading the linked document in activity 6 just before this one.
    Mural Signatures

    Artists of the Mural

    Group photo

    Artists Making the Mural

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