Download Doc Format - Science in Hawaii Project

4 DIFFERENT WAYS
TO THINK OF
ALL THE PLANTS IN HAWAI‘I
There are many different kinds of plants in Hawai‘i.
Think of how many different looking plants there are just
around your house or school. Some plants have brightly
colored flowers, others just have green leaves. What
flower or plant do you like the best? Try to describe it
below in a few sentences &/or draw a picture.
All of the plants you know came to Hawai‘i at different
times in different ways. Some were created here, as the
Kumulipo Chant and Darwin’s Theory of Evolution explain.
Others came from other lands, but before any humans
arrived. These came by WIND, WING, and WAVE, which
means their seeds were carried by weather, birds or
Science in Hawai‘i: Nā Hana Ma Ka Ahupua‘a – A Culturally Responsive Curriculum Project
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ocean currents. Then the first Hawaiians, and later the
Europeans brought new seeds and plants with them.
Because there are several different times and places
that certain plants arrived in Hawai‘i, botanists (plant
scientists) have created different groups to classify
them. There are 4 main groups which all plants on the
islands can be put into – the names of these groups may
seem strange at first, but keep using and studying them
so they can become easier for you to remember.
The 4 groups are:
1. ENDEMIC PLANTS
These plants were the very
first ones here. They did
NOT travel by Wind, Wing,
or Wave. These plants are
found here and nowhere
else and were NOT brought
by any people.
3. POLYNESIAN
INTRODUCED - These
plants were brought by
Polynesian people from
lands in the South Pacific
Ocean. These people came
to Hawai‘i with useful foods
& plants in their boats.
2. INDIGENOUS PLANTS
These plants are our Wind,
Wing, and Wave travelers.
They are from other places
and can still be found on
other islands. These plants
have found a home here
without any help from
people.
4. POST-CONTACT
PLANTS - These plants
came after the first
Europeans settled in Hawai‘i
over 200 years ago. The
Europeans who came after
Captain Cook also brought
the plants they thought
would be useful.
Science in Hawai‘i: Nā Hana Ma Ka Ahupua‘a – A Culturally Responsive Curriculum Project
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Do you think it was easy for all these different plants
from all different places to live together? If you think
no, you are right. Many, many different types of plants
died as a result of the new plants coming here.
Sometimes the new plants stole too much sunlight or took
too many nutrients (food) from the ground where older
plants lived. Some new plants also grew into places where
indigenous or endemic plants normally grew, stealing their
homes. Because of all of the new plants coming or being
brought to Hawai‘i, many endemic or native species of
plants have become extinct. What affect do you think
this had and still has on our environment? To find out, do
one of the activities below:
ACTIVITIES TO DO: CHOOSE ONE!
A) List some plants that you know live in Hawai‘i. What
category do you THINK they might fall into? Don’t worry
about being right or wrong – just guess! If you have
time, explain your guesses or draw each plant & guess
what kind of sun, water, bugs etc. they need to live here.
Plant You Know
1. taro
Category
Polynesian intro’d
2.
3.
4.
5.
Science in Hawai‘i: Nā Hana Ma Ka Ahupua‘a – A Culturally Responsive Curriculum Project
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B) Make a memory game, skit, drawing, poem or song so
you can learn the 4 categories of plants in Hawai‘i better.
Example Skit: act out a scene where the Endemic Family
who originally lives here lets people from out of town, the
Indigenous Family, stay for a few nights - they get along
so well they become one big happy family, until Polly
Nesian & Capt. Cook arrive and cause trouble for
everyone.
Example Poem: write 1 quatrain (4 lines that rhyme) for
all 4 types of plants, like this:
Endemic means native,
That’s what I see,
These plants were born here,
Just like me!
Science in Hawai‘i: Nā Hana Ma Ka Ahupua‘a – A Culturally Responsive Curriculum Project
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