Among the pleasures of being atop Hawaii’s giant volcanoes — Haleakala on Maui, and Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island — are the unusual things you see.  Standing on an otherworldly landscape of reddish-brown or gray-black lava rock, the views over the clouds are often breath-taking.  You can often see the Big Island from the top of Haleakala, and Maui from Mauna Kea.<\/p>\n

If you divert your eyes from the magnificent views to the ground, you’re likely to see this rare gray-silver spikey plant known as “Hawaiian Silversword”.  It only grows in Hawaii and then only a mile or more above sea level.  Your best chances of seeing it are on the giant volcanoes.  The climate up here is harsh — hot and cold, and very dry, with little soil, but the plant is hardy enough to endure this environment.<\/p>\n

The plant is endangered largely because people like it so much they tear it from the ground to take with them as a souvenir.  It’s making a recovery but is still uncommon.  It lives from 3 – 90 years and at the end of its life sends up a tall shoot (which can be as tall as a man) which blooms before it dies.  These blooms become seeds which spread in the wind and propagate the plant.  Seeing one in bloom is a matter of good timing luck, as they only bloom a few months of the year!<\/p>\n

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