The Kona Salt Farm sits on a striking coastal lava landscape shaped by wind, salt air, and intense sun, one of the sunniest regions in the Hawaiian Islands. While the terrain may appear rugged at first glance, this coastline supports a remarkable collection of plants uniquely adapted to thrive in one of Hawaiʻi’s most demanding environments. Many of these plants were traditionally used by Native Hawaiians for food, medicine, tools, and shelter. When you visit the farm, it’s worth slowing down and taking a closer look at the plants that quietly shape this landscape.
Native, Canoe Plants or Later Introduction
Plants arrived in Hawaiʻi in three primary ways: Some are native, arriving naturally by wind, waves, or birds; some are known as canoe plants, intentionally brought by Polynesian voyagers for their survival, food, medicine, and daily life; and others were later introductions, brought in more recently.
We will start with our Native Plants:
‘Uahloa (Waltheria indica)
You will see this shrub throughout our site, it is low to the ground and often mistaken for a weed. Its ability to thrive in harsh, rocky environments makes it a defining plant of Hawaiʻi’s leeward coasts. It has long been used medicinally by Hawaiians brewed into tea for respiratory issues, pain and inflammation as well as pounded and used in canoe building.
Naupaka Kahakai (Beach Naupaka)
You can see Naupaka all along our shore, it is a native shrub that flourishes along coastal areas and appreciated to prevent erosion. It has a small flower that is unique, all five petals are on one half of the flower. Story has it was named after Princess Naupaka who fell in love with a commoner, which was forbidden. Heartbroken, the two separated, she remained on the coast and he was sent to the mountains and princess naupaka tore a flower in half and gave him the other half. There are two naukapa tree versions, one at the shore (naupaka kahakai) and one in the uplands (naupaka kuahiwi), both grow a “half flower.”
Our Canoe Plants
Hau Tree – A Canoe Plant in two ways!
Hau Trees were valued for both their lightweight wood and their bark. Both wood and bark were used in canoe building, the soft buoyant wood for canoe booms, fish floats and light weapons and the bark was turned into for various cordage.
The Hau flower is really unique. Lasting only one single day, it starts off in the morning as a yellow flower turning red as the day goes on and then drops. Hawaiians see the Hau flower as representation for the fleeting nature of life.
Noni (Indian Mulberry)
The Noni is another plant that Polynesians introduced to Hawaii, you can see Nonis throughout our site but they flourish especially along our roof lines where they catch extra rainfall. Noni leaves are used medicinally for joint and muscle pain, placed directly on the infected area and then massaged with hot stones. The fruit is often turned into a juice or tonic often for digestive health, arthritis and to help regulate blood pressure. Noni trees have large oval, glossy leaves and knobby green fruits. The seeds are buoyant and can float in water of long periods of time. When fruits drop, we pick them up quickly as they soon smell pretty awful.
Niu (Coconut Palm)
Surprising to some, coconut palms also arrived to Hawaii as canoe plants. They were among the most valuable resources in traditional Hawaiian life. The wood was used for house posts and drums; husks and roots were made into cordage; and the nuts provided food, drink, and oil. Leaves were woven into mats and countless other items.
Coconut palms were considered a resource of the highest value. A single tree can live 80–90 years, producing roughly 20–25 coconuts annually, each taking about a year to mature.
Later Introductions
Kiawe (Mesquite)
The first Kiawe Tree was planted in Hawai’i in 1802 by Father Bachelot, it is now a widely invasive species throughout the islands along coastal areas. It is a type of Mesquite tree that can often be found in sandy areas where other plants do not grow. They are appreciated for shade but can outcompete native species. Kiawe trees can have thorns that are as large as 3-4 inches. The wood is used as firewood.
Heliotrope Tree
Several heliotropes grow along the coastline at the farm. While native to tropical regions and Polynesia, they are not native to Hawaiʻi. Exceptionally hardy, heliotrope trees are well adapted to intense sun and salt exposure. Their silvery, reflective leaves help reduce moisture loss, and they are often used as windbreaks to protect inland plants from salt spray while helping reduce coastal erosion.
Sea Grape
Sea grape trees flourish in coastal environments and play an important protective role. Their large, round leaves shield inland areas from wind and salt spray and help stabilize shorelines. The trees produce clusters of grape-like fruits that can be made into jams or jellies. These fruits attract birds, while the dense canopy provides ideal nesting habitat. Sea grape flowers also attract pollinators, making the tree an important contributor to coastal ecosystems.
Together, these plants form a living reminder that the Kona Salt Farm is shaped not only by ocean and sun, but by generations of knowledge where stewardship, resilience and culture come together.
