Hāhā (kunth's cyanea)

Cyanea kunthiana is a shrub 0.5 to 1.5 m (1.6 to 5 ft) tall with subherbaceous stems that are woody at the base and unbranched or sparingly branched. Leaves are elliptic to narrowly obovate, with blades 12 to 30 cm (4.7 to 12 in) long and 3 to 7 cm (1.2 to 2.8 in) wide, with the upper surface green and sparsely pubescent and the lower surface whitish green and pubescent. Inflorescences are 8- to 24-flowered, with peduncles 6 to 25 mm (0.2 to 1 in) long. Calyx lobes are narrowly triangular. The corolla is whitish with pale lilac longitudinal stripes, or dark purplish, 3 to 3.5 cm (1.2 to 1.4 in) long, 3 to 4 mm (0.12 to 0.16 in) wide, and with a slightly curved tube. Berries are purplish orange, obovoid to ellipsoid and 7 to 8 mm (0.28 to 0.31 in) long.

The species historical range included Hawaii. See below for information about where the species is known or believed to occur.

Habitat Requirements

Cyanea kunthiana occurs in wet, montane forests at an elevation range between 1,125 to 1,875 m (3,600 to 6,000 ft), but can range up to 2,125 m (6,800 ft). This area grades more into mesic forest from the usual wet forest habitat that C. kunthiana inhabits. Habitat is dominated by the canopy tree Metrosideros polymorpha (ohia), with Acacia koa (koa) also being co-dominant in some areas, particularly on the eastern and western boundaries of the range on East Maui. Other associated native species include the trees Cheirodendron trigynum (olapa), Ilex anomala (kawau), Coprosma spp. (pilo), Myrsine lessertiana (kolea), Kadua spp., and Melicope spp. (alani). The subcanopy and ground layers are dominated by ferns, Hydrangea arguta (kanawao), other lobeliads (Cyanea spp., Clermontia spp.), Leptecophylla tameiameiae (pukiawe), Vaccinium spp. (ohelo), Peperomia spp. (ala ala wai nui), and a variety of sedges (Carex spp., Machaerina spp.).

Food Habits

Movement / Home Range

Historically, Cyanea kunthiana was wide-ranging in wet forest on both east and west Maui. Currently, Cyanea kunthiana remains widespread across the northern and eastern slopes of Haleakala on east Maui. On west Maui, C. kunthiana is much rarer and occurs in the summit bog area around Puu Kukui and one to the north around and below Eke Crater.

Reproductive Strategy

The tube-shaped flowers of Cyanea kunthiana point to bird-pollination, most likely by the endemic Hawaiian honeycreepers (Drepandidae) or the now extinct oo (Mohoidae). Currently, the most likely extant pollinator is the iiwi (Drepanis coccinea), with secondary pollination likely from the Hawaii amakihi (Chlorodrepanis virens). The fruits of C. kunthiana were likely dispersed by birds as well. Cyanea kunthiana has been observed flowering from March to August and fruiting in August and January.

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