We’re back…Busy days…Exquisite trees and flowers…

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A Rainbow Eucalyptus tree found in Hawaii. What a fantastic tree trunk!

Rainbow eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus deglupta) are some of the most strikingly colorful trees in the world, and Hawaii is one of the few places in the U.S. where you can see them in all their vibrant glory. These trees, native to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, are known for their unique multicolored bark, which naturally peels away in strips to reveal layers of green, blue, purple, orange, and red underneath.

Rainbow eucalyptus trees thrive in Hawaii’s warm, humid climate, particularly on Maui and the Big Island. One of the best places to see them is along the Road to Hana on Maui, especially near mile marker 7 in the Ke‘anae Arboretum. Some groves are near Hana, where the damp environment helps the trees maintain their vivid colors. The Big Island also has scattered rainbow eucalyptus groves, often found in botanical gardens and private lands.

In their native environment, these trees can grow up to 250 feet tall, but in Hawaii, they typically reach around 100-125 feet. Although they were initially planted for paper production, they’re mostly admired for their beauty and serve as popular photo stops for travelers.

The bark’s colors appear as the tree sheds layers at different times throughout the year, creating an ever-changing natural masterpiece. The bright green inner bark is newly exposed, and as it matures, it transitions through shades of blue, purple, orange, and eventually brown before peeling again.

Because they are non-native, some environmentalists monitor their spread, but unlike other eucalyptus species, they aren’t considered invasive in Hawaii. If you visit, remember to appreciate them without damaging the delicate bark—taking pictures is highly encouraged, but taking pieces of the bark is not!

As for orchids, as shown below in the “Photo from ten years ago today,”…

Orchids are a stunning and diverse part of Hawaii’s flora, thriving in the tropical climate and lush landscapes. While orchids are not native to Hawaii, they have become deeply intertwined with the islands’ culture, gardens, and even leis. With thousands of varieties growing across the state, orchids are found everywhere—from botanical gardens and forests to roadside stands and hotel lobbies.

A Brief History

European botanists and plant collectors introduced orchids to Hawaii in the 1800s. The warm, humid environment proved perfect for many species, and orchids quickly became a beloved part of Hawaiian horticulture. Over time, the islands developed a thriving orchid industry, with many local growers cultivating unique hybrids.

Where to See Orchids in Hawaii

  • Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden (Big Island): This lush botanical garden is a paradise for plant lovers. It features a variety of orchids growing in their natural rainforest setting.
  • Akatsuka Orchid Gardens (Big Island): A famous orchid nursery near Volcanoes National Park, where you can see (and even buy) rare orchids, including the high-priced and fragrant volcano mist orchids.
  • Foster Botanical Garden (Oahu): One of Honolulu’s hidden gems, featuring a stunning collection of tropical plants, including native and exotic orchids.
  • Maui and Kauai Botanical Gardens: Various gardens, such as the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kauai, showcase rare orchid species in beautifully curated environments.

Notable Orchid Varieties in Hawaii

  • Dendrobium Orchids: These are commonly used in Hawaiian leis and have delicate, vibrant petals in shades of purple, pink, and white.
  • Cattleya Orchids are large, fragrant, and bold in color. They are often associated with classic tropical orchid beauty.
  • Vanda Orchids: Known for their bright blues and purples, these orchids thrive in Hawaii’s warm climate.
  • Oncidium Orchids (“Dancing Ladies”) flourish in Hawaii’s humidity. Their small, intricate blooms resemble dancing figures.

Orchids and Hawaiian Culture

Though orchids are not as profoundly tied to Hawaiian traditions as native plants like maile or plumeria, they have become a favorite for leis, floral arrangements, and even weddings. Purple dendrobium leis are most commonly given to visitors and at celebrations.

Orchid Growing in Hawaii

If you love orchids, Hawaii is an ideal place to grow them. Many local nurseries sell plants, and some even provide shipping services. The key to growing orchids successfully in Hawaii is good air circulation, filtered sunlight, and the right amount of humidity.

Orchids in Hawaii are more than just flowers—they symbolize the islands’ natural beauty and resilience and how different cultures have influenced the landscape.

We are grateful for our experiences in Hawaii and other countries, where we have visited countless botanical gardens worldwide. Now, we look forward to taking photos of unusual flowers that bloom in the bush in South Africa when we arrive in a mere 28 days.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, February 3, 2015:

What’s more beautiful than an orchid? This photo was taken at the Kauai Botanical Garden. For more photos, please click here.

Vegetation in Hawaii…The interesting Milo tree…

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The trimmed Milo tree that we held with little regard until manager Mike told me its story.

Yesterday morning, as I wandered the area looking for interesting vegetation, I was particularly curious as to the trees that often appear in our photos when we take shots of the ocean from our lanai.

Originally, their recently trimmed appearance was somewhat of an eyesore in our photos. More than once, I maneuvered the camera in such a way to ensure they weren’t included in the photo.

Another trimmed Milo tree on the grounds.

Now, I feel a little foolish after meeting Mike, the property manager here at Milowai, our condo complex, explained this building was named after these interesting trees,  “Milo,” after the Milo tree, with the “wai” meaning “water,” tree by the water.

Mike explained they are a hearty tree with a major significance to the Hawaiian people as indicated in this quote below from this website.

“There are those who say that the beautifully grained milo wood utensils, furnishings, and jewelry were only for the chiefs of ancient Hawai`i. It is told that the Waikiki home of Kamehameha I was surrounded by milo trees.

Although rare today, in old Hawai`i milo was a commonly found tree, cultivated as a shade plant around homes near sunny coastal areas with loose soil. It does not grow in the high inland forests.
Brought to these islands by early Polynesian settlers who carried the seeds, this fast-growing evergreen tree was planted around the temples in Tahiti, as it was said to be spiritually connected to the chant and to prayer. It is a widespread species throughout Polynesia and Micronesia, as well as in tropical Africa.
Milo’s scientific name is Thespesia populnea, and it is also known as a portia tree. A member of the Hibiscus family, the malvacceae, it is a close relative of hau, `ilima, and ma`o, Hawai`i cotton.
The bark of milo was used for cordage fiber, similarly to hau, but it is inferior in quality to hau and to olona. The tree also yields tannin, dye, oil, medicine and gum, from various parts of the plant. The milo wood was skillfully crafted into poi bowls called `umeke `ai, and into plates, too. Calabashes/bowls of kou wood were more highly prized than those of milo, and were more often used.
`Umeke `ai is an honored implement in a Hawai`i home, for, through the ceremony of eating poi one at a time from the bowl at the center, the traditions and protocol of Kanaka Maoli is maintained. The `umeke `ai filled with kalo (taro) is considered the means of survival of the people of Hawai`i Nei.
`Umeke la`au is the Hawai`i name for these containers or calabashes of wood, which were used for the storage, transport and serving of food in various stages of preparation. Milo wood is flavorless since it is lacking in any unpleasant-tasting sap that could contaminate stored food.
The milo tree is a small to medium-sized one, growing to less than 40 feet high. The trunk can be 2 feet in diameter at full maturity. The bark is corrugated, with scaly twigs. The branches are widely spread and usually horizontal, making for an ideal shade tree. The glossy heart-shaped leaves are 3-5 inches across.
Young leaves are edible. Bell-shaped pale yellow flowers with maroon or purple centers turn purplish-pink as they within their short one-day hibiscus life. Following the flowering stage, the one-inch diameter seeds grow in globular 5-celled woody cases that have downy hairs on their surface. These remain on the plant for some time and ripen only in areas of dry climate.
Milo wood has an attractive grain that takes to a high polish and, in addition to food utensils and containers, was fashioned into paddles and other carved objects, as well as for an occasional canoe, although koa was considered to be the most popular material for canoes.”
Mike further explained that the Milo tree produces flowers as shown in this borrowed photo below (flowers aren’t blooming at this time) that are messy on the pristine lawn. As a result, they are trimmed once a year which occurred shortly before our arrival a month ago.
Beautiful flowers that bloom on the Milo tree. (Not our photo).
For more scientific information on this exquisite tree, please click here.
The flowers only last for one day, closing into and becoming a seed pod of sorts as shown in this photo below, none of which we’ve seen on the trimmed trees.
The flowers as shown above bloom only for one day, later becoming these seed pods from which eight seeds are eventually released. (Not our photo).

Mike also explained that the Milo tree does well growing near the sea and is unaffected by the salt from the sea which is very close to the Milo trees on the grounds here at Milowai.

I was also curious as to the type of grass on the lawn here. It is so perfect, it almost appears as if it isn’t real.  But, it is real. It’s called South Coast from which a fake turf is actually named. It too, like the Milo tree, suffers no ill effects from its close proximity to the salt from the ocean.

The carpet-like lawn at Milowai.

It’s ironic how we’ve dismissed this odd-looking trimmed tree to discover that in fact, it has its own story to tell, profound in the history of the Hawaiian Islands and its people. Now, we look at it with new eyes and interest.  Going forward, we’ll make no effort to exclude it from our photos.

Sorry, Milo.

                                         Photo from one year ago today, November 15, 2013:

This was the tiny freezer in Kenya. On this date a year ago, when we were leaving on December 1st, we assessed our food on hand to use in the remaining 16 days until we left for South Africa. And here we are now, assessing the food we have left for our departure date once again on December 1st before we leave for the Big Island. For details from that date, please click here.