Silverswords on Haleakala are displaying bumper crop

Haleakala National Park on Maui is reporting an unusual abundance of silverswords currently in bloom.

The rare ahina­hina, found nowhere else in the world, is flowering atop the summit at the Kala­haku Overlook as well as along 4- to 6-mile hikes into the summit basin along the Sliding Sands Trail.

"Long-term residents and park staff say this is one of the best years they’ve seen for flowers up here," said Superintendent Nata­lie Gates in a news release issued Tuesday. "A large silversword can produce several thousand viable seeds, which then must take root in the summit’s harsh environment. We hope neighbors and visitors alike will come enjoy this incredible sight."

Visitors to Hale­akala are reminded to remain on trails to avoid crushing new seedlings or existing roots.

Visitors can also view the silversword’s primary pollinator, the yellow-faced bee. Found only in Hawaii, the bee is preyed on by non-native ants and wasps. Visitors can help protect the species by not littering and by picking up trash.

The park is in its final months of a yearlong study to determine the effects of climate change, such as drought conditions, on the Hale­akala ahina­hina. Silverswords can thrive for more than 90 years. They flower once, sending up a spectacular stalk, and then die soon afterward, scattering drying seeds. Visitors can learn more at the national park’s visitor centers and online at www.nps.gov/hale/index.htm.