Have you ever seen a silversword? No, not a sword... this is a rare plant that grows only near and in Maui's volcano valley on Haleakala. Its Hawai'ian name is 'ahinahina. According to the Pacific Islands Park website 'long term residents and park staff say this year is one of the best years they've seen for flowers up here.'
While you are looking, please be very careful not to step near these endangered plants. Instead, please stay on marked trails, so you don't accidentally crush their fragile root systems or new seedlings.
Silverswords bloom once and then die. They aren't the most beautiful plants, but to be growing at 10,023 ft elevation, beauty isn't everything!
You will need to enter Haleakala National Park ($10 vehicle fee). From Kihei it will take you approximately 2 hours to reach the summit.Labels: life on Maui, volcano