Seaweed Resources of the Hawaiian Islands
Botanica Marina 2019; 62(5): 443–462 Review Karla J. McDermid*, Keelee J. Martin and Maria C. Haws Seaweed resources of the Hawaiian Islands https://doi.org/10.1515/bot-2018-0091 rolls, in salads, in stews, with raw fish, or even in cakes Received 4 October, 2018; accepted 15 May, 2019; online first and custards. Real seaweed connoisseurs will tell you what 25 June, 2019 species they have in the refrigerator; for some it is Gracilaria or Asparagopsis; for others it is Pyropia or Ulva. The story Abstract: Up-to-date information about the unique marine of seaweed resources in the Hawaiian Islands is influenced flora of the Hawaiian Islands – its environment, uses, cul- by the geographic isolation of the islands, their dynamic tivation, conservation, and threats – comes from many volcanic development, and the deep tradition of human sources, and is compiled here for the first time. The sea- use of marine macroalgae that can be traced to the early weed resources of the Hawaiian Islands are taxonomically Polynesian inhabitants of the islands. Numerous phycolo- diverse, biogeographically intriguing, ecologically complex, gists have made important contributions to the taxonomy of culturally significant, and economically valuable. Macroal- the Hawaiian marine flora: Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré, gae, historically and today, are critical components of the Joseph F. Rock, Minnie Reed, Marie Neal, W.A. Setchell, Paul marine ecosystem, as well as the diet and culture of people Galtsoff, G.F. Papenfuss, Max Doty, George Hollenberg, Gerry living in the islands. Some Hawaiian seaweeds are known Kraft, Bernabé Santelices, Mitchell Hoyle, Lynn Hodgson, to contain valuable bioactive compounds that have poten- Bill Magruder, John Huisman, and most notably Isabella tial medical and pharmaceutical applications.
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