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Section Two
Aliens Introduced to Hawai‘i by the Polynesians
What did the Polynesian settlers need?
Ivy Gourd
Polynesians Changed Hawai‘i
Kalo
Kawainui
Gardening Dos
Gardening Don'ts
Alien-Plumeria
Make Them Different
Favorite Lei Flowers
Lei Flower Songs
Problem Vines
Pest Plants
Pest Plant Spreads
Alien-Sugar Cane
Thirsty crop
King Sugar
Sugar Aliens
Alien-Macadamia Nut
Australian Import
Macadamia Nut Harvesting
Alien-Cattle
Na Paniolo o Hawai‘i
Cattle Aliens
Alien-Bulbul
Alien Birds Of Hawai‘i
Alien-Rabbit
Rabbits at Haleakala
Wanted or Unwanted
Legal in Hawai‘i ?
Pets Gone Wild
Illegal Aliens in Hawai‘i
Alien-Wallaby
Wallabies
Master Collector
Marin Plants
Farming Aliens

Section Three

Section Four

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Featured Alien: Plumeria

Scientific Name: Plumeria obtusa
Also Known As:
Plumeria, Melia, Frangipani

How It Came To Hawai‘i :

Though it is native to tropical America, the first plumeria came to Hawai‘i from the Orient in the late 1800s. William Hillebrand, Commissioner of Immigration, collected the plant while on a trip to Asia.

Impact Since Its Arrival:

This popular garden tree now grows throughout the islands and provides a steady source of colorful flowers for lei-makers. It does not spread easily on its own and is not a threat to native ecosystems.

Plumeria was often planted in cemeteries and became the "graveyard" flower. Because plumeria was associated with death, many Hawaiians shunned the idea of using it for lei. It was not until the 1940s that it became popular as a lei flower. Plumeria was abundant, fragrant, simple to string - ideal for the developing tourist industry!

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