Forests in Our Islands: Plant Foundations of Hawaii Culture and Economics

The Hawaiian Islands are an isolated archipelago in the Pacific Ocean with diverse forests covering 1.5 million ac—36 percent of Hawaiʻi’s land area. These forests produce wood for local use and support trade, yet large-scale timber production has never been significant in Hawaiʻi. In contrast, nontimber forest products (NTFPs), have been foundational to the culture and economy of the state throughout history and continue to be elemental to contemporary society. We identified more than 140 plant species harvested and used as NTFPs. Thirty-eight percent are native to Hawaiʻi. This study could guide plans to conserve Hawaiʻi’s forests and cultural economy.