Māla Lā’au Hawai’i

Aloha, My name is Cory with Māla Lā’au Hawai’i. We are a Hawai'i native plant nursery in Pahoa on the East side of Hawai'i Island. After working in the nursery/landscape industry for over 10 years and having a degree in environmental conservation, it was a no-brainer to start a native plant nursery. Hawaii's native plants need our help in any way, shape, or form. Māla Lā’au Hawai’i, meaning Garden of Hawaiian Plants, is here to provide Hawai'i Island with endemic, Indigenous, and Polynesian introduced plants. When we look around, especially in peoples yards, we don't see plants from here. It's becoming harder and harder to see native species.

There are roughly 1,400 plant species native to Hawai'i. 90% of those plants are endemic, meaning they are found in Hawai'i and only Hawa'i. This is why Hawai'i is considered the native species capital of the world and unfortunately is considered the endangered species capitol of the world. 44% of the endangered plants in the US are found in Hawai'i. 100 species have already gone extinct, and over 200 species have fewer than 50 individuals left in the wild. Human development, habitat loss, introduction of invasive species (plants and animals), climate change, basically everything is stacking up against the survival of our native flora and fauna. Hawai'i has changed so drastically from its natural state at such a rapid rate, the plants and animals have not had the chance to develope defense traits and mechanisms. It's a consistent uphill battle, but we can all help by starting at home in our garden, our māla. There is a native alternative to every ornamental plant people want in their yards, people just might not know. I hope this website can be used as an educational tool and as motivation to plant natives in your yards. Everyone can have a Māla Lā’au Hawai’i.