Native Plants of the Big Island

Important:
Many plants and animals on the Big Island are protected by law or are culturally significant. Touching, feeding, collecting, or disturbing wildlife and plants — even unintentionally — can cause harm and may result in fines.

In addition, many sightings occur along uneven trails, lava rock, mud, or unmaintained paths. Terrain can change quickly with rain, elevation, and volcanic soil. Proper footwear, realistic expectations, and turning back when conditions feel unsafe are part of responsible exploration.

The Big Island has more native and endemic plant species than any other Hawaiian island, many of which exist nowhere else on Earth. Visitors often mistake common roadside plants for “native,” but Hawaiʻi’s true native plants are tightly tied to elevation, rainfall, and volcanic soil.

This guide explains what plants are actually native, which ones are protected, and what visitors should never pick, move, or disturb.