Ma‘o and Nalo Meli Maoli

 The dry western coastal plains of most main Hawaiian islands are home to the Ma‘o, Hawaiian cotton (Gossypium tomentosum). The ma‘o is able to survive in very dry conditions and tolerates salt spray. Even though it is a hardy plant, it’s becoming increasingly rare in the wild.

People have had many uses for the ma‘o. It was used for food, medicine, as a dye, and stuffing for pillows. The fibers are unsuitable for making thread and cloth, but other traits make it attractive to the commercial cotton industry. Modern hybrids between commercial cotton varieties and the Hawaiian endemic ma‘o created cotton that is more resistant to insects that destroy cotton crops.

Another disappearing resident of dry coastal plains is the nalo maka lena, Hawaiian yellow faced bee (Hylaeus anthracinus). The nalo meli maoli was once abundant from the mountains to the ocean. Only the males of this tiny native bee have a yellow face. The more common females are all black. A casual observer might mistake the tiny bee for a fly.

The nalo meli maoli prefers to pollinate native plants like naupaka and ‘ōhai. Restoring habitat means bringing back the diversity of native plants and animals. Native plants need native animals to thrive and reproduce, and the animals need the plants.