‘Āhinahina, Silversword

The ‘ahinahina stand like silvery sentinels near the peaks of Hawai‘i’s tallest mountains. The Hawaiian name ‘ahinahina, and English name silversword, describe the silvery color of the leaves and long sword-like shape. The ‘ahinahina (Argyroxiphium sandwicense), and related subspecies can be found in the alpine zone of the highest mountains on Hawai‘i and Maui. This environment on the mountain peaks that rise above the clouds is often windy and dry. The sun is very hot and intense during the day. Nighttime temperatures can often drop below freezing. There are even areas of permanently frozen ground near the peak of Maunakea.

The ‘ahinahina looks like it might be a kind of cactus, but is actually related to the sunflower. There are several species of ‘ahinahina, each adapted to different islands.

The ‘ahinahina has long narrow leaves that help it conserve water. The roots are wide and shallow to quickly soak up rain from infrequent showers. These roots are easily damaged if you stand too close.

Endemic moths and bees depend on the ‘ahinahina for survival. They feed on the nectar from its impressive spiky flowers and pollinate them. The sticky spiky hairs on the leaves protect the ‘ahinahina from non-pollinating insects that might want to munch on them.

However, the ‘ahinahina is defenseless against larger animals. It is vulnerable to escaped livestock like sheep, goats, and cattle. Feral grazers have eaten and trampled the roots of most of the ‘ahinahina in the wild. Careful management has restored some ‘ahinahina populations, but they are under constant threat from feral ungulates.

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