Hawaiian tropical rainforests facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hawaiian tropical rainforests
Kauaʻi's Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve
Ecology
Realm	Oceanian
Biome	Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Borders	Hawaiian tropical dry forests and Hawaiian tropical high shrublands
Geography
Area	6,700 km2 (2,600 sq mi)
Country	United States
State	Hawaii
Climate type	Tropical rainforest (Af)
Conservation
Conservation status	Critical/Endangered
Global 200	Yes

The Hawaiian tropical rainforests are a special natural area. They are found across the Hawaiian Islands. These forests are a type of tropical moist broadleaf forest. They cover about 6,700 square kilometers (2,587 square miles). You can find them in the lowlands and mountains. These are mostly on the "windward" side of the islands. The windward side gets a lot of rain and wind.

For millions of years, these rainforests have been alone. They are far from other lands in the Pacific Ocean. This long isolation helped amazing new species grow. Many unique fungi, mosses, snails, and birds live here. In the wet mountain forests, trees are covered. You will see vines, orchids, ferns, and mosses. One of the wettest places on Earth is here. It is the slopes of Mount Waiʻaleʻale. It gets about 373 inches (9,500 mm) of rain each year!

Discover the Hawaiian Rainforests!

The Hawaiian rainforests are truly unique. They are home to plants and animals found nowhere else. This makes them very important to protect.

What Makes These Forests Special?

These forests are divided into different zones. Each zone depends on how high it is. It also depends on how much rain it gets.

• Coastal mesic forests are near the sea. They go up to 300 meters (980 feet) high. "Mesic" means they are moderately wet.
• Mixed mesic forests are higher up. They are found between 750 and 1,250 meters (2,460–4,100 feet).
• Wet forests are even higher. They grow from 1,250 to 1,700 meters (4,100–5,580 feet). Some can be as low as 200 meters (660 feet).
• Mountain bogs are very wet, spongy areas. They are found on high, flat areas.

A World of Unique Life

Because Hawaii is so isolated, many species are endemic. This means they only live in Hawaii. These include many plants and animals. The forests are like a natural laboratory. New life forms have developed here over millions of years.

Different Types of Hawaiian Forests

Let's explore the different kinds of rainforests in Hawaii. Each one has its own special plants.

Coastal Forests: Near the Ocean

These forests are on the rainy side of the islands. They grow from sea level up to 300 meters (980 feet). For a long time, these forests had native hala and hau trees. They also had kukui and milo trees. These were brought by early Polynesian settlers. Other common plants include noni, pia, and kī. You can also find native pololei, ʻākia, and loulu fan palms. The ʻōhiʻa lehua and lama trees also grow here.

Mixed Mesic Forests: A Bit Higher Up

Mixed mesic forests are found on the rainy slopes. They are between 750 and 1,250 meters (2,460–4,100 feet) high. They also grow on Mount Lānaʻihale on Lānaʻi. These areas get 1,000 to 2,500 mm (39–98 inches) of rain yearly. The top layer of trees, called the canopy, is somewhat open. It is mostly made of koa and ʻōhiʻa lehua trees. Many other trees and shrubs grow here too. These include pāpala, olopua, and ʻiliahi.

Wet Forests: Where Rain is King!

Wet forests are usually found from 1,250 to 1,700 meters (4,100–5,580 feet). But they can be as low as 200 meters (660 feet). These forests get a huge amount of rain. It can be from 3,000 to 11,250 mm (118–443 inches) per year! The ʻōhiʻa lehua tree is the most common in the canopy. Koa trees are also very common.

Other trees include kāwaʻu and ʻalani. You can also see hāpuʻu, which are tree ferns. Many plants grow beneath the main trees. This layer is called the understory. Some understory plants are ʻapeʻape and māmaki. Vines like maile also grow here. Some plants, called epiphytes, grow on other plants. They do not harm the host plant. Examples are ʻieʻie and puaʻakuhinia. Many ferns and mosses also grow as epiphytes. They cover the trees. Tall loulu fan palms can even grow above the forest canopy.

Mountain Bogs: Wet and Wonderful

Bogs are found in the mountains. They are areas where rain collects faster than it can drain away. This creates a very wet, spongy ground. The main plants in bogs are shrubs, sedges, and grasses. Larger shrubs and small trees grow around the edges. They also grow on small raised mounds. Common sedges include Carex species. Shrubs like ʻōhelo are also found. Grasses like Dichanthelium species grow here. Dwarf ʻōhiʻa lehua trees are often seen at the bog edges. Ferns like wāwaeʻiole and ʻamaʻu thrive in these wet conditions. Some rare plants, like liliwai, also call these bogs home.

Protecting These Special Places

It is very important to protect these unique Hawaiian rainforests. They are home to many plants and animals found nowhere else. One important protected area is the Olaa Forest. It is located within the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. These efforts help keep these amazing forests safe for the future.

See also

• Big Bog, Maui
• Hawaiian tropical dry forests
• List of ecoregions in the United States (WWF)
• Oceanian realm