What's Up Hawaii?

  Aloha everyone! Di here with another look at what is up in the Aloha state! I hope you are all doing well. I've decided today, to write about The Hawaiian Islands Tropical Moist Forest. A few of Mike's quotes over the weekend were about nature, and that inspired me to write about something in that category today.  Well, that and almost 60 degree temperatures yesterday. The two combined, brought out my love of nature. A nice distraction from all this snow we have gotten over the past three months or so here in Virginia.

   Now, when I first saw a couple articles on a moist forest, I thought what is a moist forest? I've forgotten over the years the difference between a moist forest and a rainforest. So I'm including that information as well.  Also, speaking of Mike, I'll give a link to another of his articles. His stories are like taking an adventure in a way. He talks about the Hawaiian Culture. I find the Hawaiian Culture very interesting. The way the people there, respect their aloha aina (the love of the land) is very special. The article also mentions Kauai. I am still longing to set foot on Hawaiian soil, and probably would love each Island, but the natural beauty of the Garden Island is very appealing to me. As long as I have a Palm Tree though, lol I'm happy! ;-) Enjoy...

http://hawaiianlife.com/content/best-way-learn-hawaiian-culture

                                   *The Hawaiian Islands Tropical Moist Forest*

   There are two major types of wet tropical forests. One is a rainforest, the other a moist forest. Simply put, the difference between a moist forest and a rainforest is the amount of rain that falls in each, annually. A rainforest is characterized by more than 80 inches of rain, annually spread evenly throughtout the year. These forests have the highest biological diversity and a well developed form of vegetation.

   Tropical moist forest are found at a greater distance from the equator, where rainfall and day length vary seasonally. These forests get only 50 inches of rain annually and are distinguished from a rainforest, by a cooler dry season. During this dry season, many trees shed some or all of their leaves, which create a seasonal reduction in coverage, that allows more sunlight to reach the forest floor, and allows the growth of other vegetation that wouldn't grow in a tropical rainforest.

   For 70 million years, the Hawaiian Islands have been isolated from the rest of the world by vast stretches of the Pacific Ocean, and this isolation has resulted in the evolution of an incredible diversity of fungi, mosses, snails, birds, and other wildlife. One of the world's biological treasures, the Hawaiian Tropical Moist Forests ecoregion is home to a high diversity of  the species that occur in one area or region, which is a endemic.  In the lush, moist forests high in the mountains, Koa and Ohialehua trees are draped with vines, orchids, ferns, and mosses. This diversity of habitats and richness of life make Hawaii's moist forests some of the most spectacular places on Earth.

   From lush rain forests to bogs, a surprisingly diverse mixture of habitats makes up the Hawaii Tropical Moist Forests ecoregion. This diversity includes the world's wettest rain forest on Mount Waialeale, which averages 450 inches of rainfall per year. While we often associate Hawaii with beautiful rain forests, which occur on the mountaintops of the smaller islands and on the windward sides of the larger islands, the islands moist forest regions are also home to wet shrublands and bogs in swampy areas.  

   An interesting group of plants and animals live in the tropical forests of Hawaii. Hawaiian hawks soar over forests of Koa and Ohialehua trees, which provide habitat for unusual vines and spectacular native tree snails. Forest birds such as the Hawaiian crow and Hawaiian thrush call the moist forest home. Native honeycreepers also live here. They are a group of birds that have diverse bill structures for feeding on different plants in wet forests. Several unusual carnivorous caterpillars are endemic to Hawaii. Some of these caterpillars mimic twigs and snatch prey that mistakenly comes too close; others perch on tree trunks, or wait on ferns and leaves. When triggered by touch, these caterpillars snatch their prey.  

   Almost all the native plants in the Hawaiian islands occur nowhere else on Earth, and most are defenseless against non-native species. These invaders can cause major problems for native plants and animals, such as pigs. The pigs were brought to these islands by humans from Polynesia and Europe and have since escaped and turned wild. As they have reproduced and spread, these little piggies have destroyed native vegetation, caused soil erosion, eaten bird eggs and nestlings, spread weeds and diseases, and polluted water supplies.

   Other plants and animals are crowding out and destroying Hawaii's native plants and animals, while recreational activities threaten large blocks mountainous region forests. Hawaii has already lost two-thirds of its original forests to agriculture, clearing, and fire, and half its native birds through habitat loss and introduced disease. Saving the remaining native species that occur naturally in that habitat, is a race against time. 

   Well everyone, I hope you enjoyed this weeks blog. I appreciate the opportunity Mike has given me, and love the fact that I am able to talk about Hawaii. That is a pretty nice way to spend my day! Just waiting for Mother Nature to allow Spring to do it's magic! Even though it isn't Spring yet, we normally have Spring-like weather by now. I hope you all have a good week. Stay safe and enjoy it! Until next time, Mahalo!

Aloha,

Di