Māmane

Māmane is a native Hawaiian tree of the high slopes, hung with clusters of bright yellow pea-shaped flowers. Its wood is dense and was used for tools, posts, and canoe parts.

The endangered palila bird depends almost entirely on māmane seed pods to survive. Where the māmane forest goes, the palila goes with it — one of the tightest partnerships in the islands.

It is a subtle beauty, easy to drive past. But in the thin upland air, with the light coming sideways, a māmane in full flower looks lit from inside.