HAWAI'I GARDENS
Kamani trees in Hau'ula, La'ie worth a closer look
By Heidi Bornhorst
Some of the best true kamani and false kamani (Terminalia catalpa) trees are growing near Hau'ula Elementary School. Old and huge, they have some of the best buttress roots we have ever seen.
Keiki must love to play among them. The trees look like those that shape the Ko'olau ridges and peaks behind the school campus, which is lovely and well-maintained. Stop and admire the trees the next time you're on that side.
At Kokololio Beach Park near La'ie are gorgeous old false kamani on the sand dunes that embrace the beach park.
The designers of the park were really akamai — they left the dunes in place to provide natural buffers that protect the park and shelter those who go there. They also protect the area from high surf.
In the parking lot are young true kamani, along with clusters of white, fragrant flowers. They complement the grove of false kamani trees in the background.
Also beautiful in this hot summer weather are poinciana, or flamboyant (Delonix regia), a gorgeous flowering tree native to Madagascar. It blooms in shades of red, orange, peach and sometimes yellow. It also thrives in hot, dry weather.
Time to trim mao hau hele
Our state flower, mao hau hele, or Hibiscus brackenridgei, with its large yellow flowers, is just about pau blooming for the year. It's time to trim it back, lace out the branch structure and propagate cuttings to share with other gardeners.
The native fragrant whites, koki'o ke'oke'o, are in magnificent bloom. We have species from Kaua'i, O'ahu and Moloka'i, and all are fragrant.
Hibiscus relatives 'ilima and red 'ilima, or ko'oloa 'ula, also are having a nice blooming season. Consider some of these lovely free-blooming natives the next time you get inspired to landscape. Several native plant nurseries and garden shops carry these plants.
Time to revisit the palace
At one of my favorite garden shops, I ran into someone who is a docent at 'Iolani Palace. She told me the stairway of solid curly koa in the palaceis such a historic treasure that walking on it is no longer permitted — elevators must be used.
This also is a good place to observe the lovely and old-fashioned kamani wood. It's time to visit 'Iolani Palace again.
Heidi Bornhorst is a sustainable landscape consultant.
