04-01-2014, 07:20 AM
The reality is everything was introduced. In the beginning, this part of the ocean was the original Waterworld, there was no land mass.
As the land mass emerged, vegetation started, mostly due to wind blown pollen finding its way to a lava field crevice. Also, the sea carries all kinds of things for vast distances.
There is a native palm, the loulo. It isn't threatened but only located in a few places among all the other introduced palms. The various ferns are also native.
The main issue isn't whether it was introduced or not, but whether it is invasive or not, that is, showing measurable damage to the indigenous ecosystem. Macadamia nut trees were introduced but seem to not have many damaging invasive effects to the indigenous ecosystem. Strawberry guava is introduced and invasive, as an example. Tangerines, lemons, limes, introduced but not seen as invasive. Horticulture weeds introduced through importation of potted plants, introduced inadvertently and invasive. The invasive isn't just out of control growth, it is how much it crowds out what should be the indigenous ecosystem.
"This island Hawaii on this island Earth"
As the land mass emerged, vegetation started, mostly due to wind blown pollen finding its way to a lava field crevice. Also, the sea carries all kinds of things for vast distances.
There is a native palm, the loulo. It isn't threatened but only located in a few places among all the other introduced palms. The various ferns are also native.
The main issue isn't whether it was introduced or not, but whether it is invasive or not, that is, showing measurable damage to the indigenous ecosystem. Macadamia nut trees were introduced but seem to not have many damaging invasive effects to the indigenous ecosystem. Strawberry guava is introduced and invasive, as an example. Tangerines, lemons, limes, introduced but not seen as invasive. Horticulture weeds introduced through importation of potted plants, introduced inadvertently and invasive. The invasive isn't just out of control growth, it is how much it crowds out what should be the indigenous ecosystem.
"This island Hawaii on this island Earth"
*Japanese tourist on bus through Pahoa, "Is this still America?*