The Use of Native Hawaiian Plants by Landscape Architects in Hawaii
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The Use of Native Hawaiian Plants by Landscape Architects in Hawaii Laila N. Tamimi Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Landscape Architecture Chair, Lee R. Skabelund Claudia Goetz Phillips Duncan M. Porter April 23, 1999 Blacksburg, Virginia Keywords: Landscape Architecture, Native Hawaiian Plants, Hawaii, Hawaiian Culture Copyright 1999, Laila N. Tamimi The Use of Native Hawaiian Plants by Landscape Architects in Hawaii Laila N. Tamimi (ABSTRACT) Hawaii has lost significant numbers of native flora and fauna resulting from introduced grazing animals, invasive flora, fire and a loss of habitat due to urbanization and agricultural use. Scientists believe that protecting these plants can be achieved by eliminating or reducing threats to native ecosystems, generating and maintaining genetic back-up and by outplanting. The Endangered Species Acts 73 and 236 (State Law requiring the use of native Hawaiian plants in State funded projects) were created to protect rare and common native plants and increase the populations and public awareness of these plants. Two surveys and case studies were conducted to determine if and why landscape architects in Hawaii use native Hawaiian plants in their planting plans and to compare use in the public and private sectors. The findings show that the majority of landscape architects use native Hawaiian plants in their planting plans as a result of Acts 73 and 236. Unavailable plant material, unestablished maintenance requirements and difficulty selecting plants for a site are constraints faced by landscape architects that may inhibit their use of native plants. Matter, of this is the cosmos, sun, earth and life made Sun, shine that we may live. Earth-home Oceans-ancient home Atmosphere, protect and sustain us Clouds, rain, rivers and streams, replenish us from the sea Plants-live and breathe that we may breathe, eat and live Animals, kin. Decomposers, reconstitute the wastes of life and death so that life may endure. Man, seek the path of benign planetary enzyme, aspire to be the world’s physician. Heal the earth and thyself. Ian L. McHarg Design with Nature I would like to extend my deepest gratitude, appreciation and Aloha for “ya all’s” help. Professor Lee R. Skabelund--for your patience, guidance, support, editing, thoughtful input and always finding time to help me out. Professors Claudia Goetz Phillips and Duncan M. Porter--for your positive input, patience and guidance. Theresa Phipps--for all your help. Professor Janice McBee--helping to guide the methodology and analysis of the survey. Dr. and Mrs. Y.N. Tamimi and family--for your love, caring and endless support. Ann Rich and Kathleen Sherry--for taking the time to edit. Jade Moniz--for all your patient computer assistance. The late Robert Tomczak who taught me a lot about landscape architecture--he will be greatly missed. The late Dr. Will Shepherd for enlightening and instilling in me an environmental ethic and stewardship which I will keep for a lifetime. Landscape architects--Michael Chu and Mark Hughes for their time and contribution to the case studies. The State of Virginia--for allowing me to enjoy the wonderful seasons and people. And last but not least, Kalua--for being the most intelligent, loving and entertaining border collie in the world. iii Source: Sohmer, S. H. and R. Gustafson. 1989. Plants and Flowers of Hawaii. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu. p. 6. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 ~ INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 1 BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS............................................................................................ 1 THESIS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES................................................................................................................ 2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................ 4 CHAPTER 2 ~ NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE PLANTS IN HAWAII.............................................................. 7 DEFINITION OF PLANTS IN HAWAII ........................................................................................................... 7 CULTURAL VALUE OF NATIVE HAWAIIAN PLANTS AND POLYNESIAN INTRODUCED PLANTS... 11 CHANGES IN THE HAWAIIAN LANDSCAPE ............................................................................................. 15 ENDANGERMENT OF NATIVE HAWAIIAN PLANTS................................................................................ 15 IMPACT OF NON-NATIVE, INVASIVE PLANTS ON NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS IN HAWAII................. 18 DATA ACCOUNTS OF THREE INVASIVE PLANTS ................................................................................... 19 HOW NON-NATIVE SPECIES ARE INTRODUCED INTO HAWAII?.......................................................... 21 ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN PROTECTING NATIVE HAWAIIAN PLANTS .................................... 22 CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................................ 24 CHAPTER 3 ~ LEGISLATION RELATED TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN PLANTS......................................... 25 ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN PLANTS.......................................................... 25 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND ACTS 73 AND 236................................................................................. 27 CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................................ 30 CHAPTER 4 ~ LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS’ USE OF NATIVE HAWAIIAN PLANTS ............................ 32 SURVEY REVIEW AND ANALYSIS............................................................................................................. 32 CASE STUDY REVIEW AND ANALYSIS .................................................................................................... 50 DISCUSSION AND SYNTHESIS OF CONCERNS AND ISSUES.................................................................. 64 GUIDELINES FOR USING NATIVE HAWAIIAN PLANTS.......................................................................... 73 CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................................ 75 CHAPTER 5 ~ RECOMMENDATIONS.......................................................................................................... 76 CHAPTER 6 ~ SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................ 84 BIBLIOGRAPHY.............................................................................................................................................. 90 APPENDICES.................................................................................................................................................. 105 APPENDIX A ~ PLANTS ASSOCIATED WITH HAWAIIAN CULTURE ................................................... 105 APPENDIX B ~ SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII: ACTS 73 AND 236 ........................................................... 106 APPENDIX C ~ DRAFT COPY OF HAWAII ADMINISTRATIVE RULES PERTAINING TO ACTS 73 AND 236................................................................................................................................................................. 108 APPENDIX D ~ SURVEY DATA RESPONSES ........................................................................................... 113 APPENDIX E ~ PLANT RANKINGS ........................................................................................................... 127 APPENDIX F ~ SURVEY PLANT LIST DATA............................................................................................ 128 GLOSSARY .................................................................................................................................................. 129 VITA ............................................................................................................................................................. 132 v CHAPTER 1 ~ INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS Before western contact, Hawaiians had a relatively stable relationship with the land (Abbott 1992). The well known Hawaiian phrase “UA MAU KE EA O KA AINA I KA PONO,” (the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness) implies the Hawaiians’ responsibility and stewardship towards the land. However,“western contact accelerated the political changes”(conflicts and wars between chiefs of different islands) “already in progress when Captain Cook (the first known westerner to come to the Hawaiian Islands in 1778) arrived and precipitated a myriad of other changes affecting not only Hawaiian culture, its social organization, land use, economy, material culture, planting, but also the very flora of the islands” (Abbot 1992:131). These changes initiated the erosion of political, religious and social customs which, in turn, had a strong influence on Hawaiian attitudes towards land stewardship and resulted in the degradation of the island’s fragile ecosystems (Abbott 1992). Hawaii has lost a large percentage of its native flora and fauna. Seventy percent of the documented extinction in the United States were from Hawaii alone (Implementation of the Endangered Species Act