This is a comprehensive 500-question study guide for the Hawaii Landscape Architect Plant
Materials Exam. The guide covers all major topic areas including:
- Native Hawaiian Plants (Endemic and Indigenous Species)
- Polynesian Introductions and Canoe Plants
- Rare and Endangered Species
- Invasive and Nuisance Species
- Landscape Design Principles Using Native Plants
- Propagation and Cultivation Techniques
- Ecological and Cultural Considerations
- Medicinal, Material, and Cultural Applications
- Plant Ecology and Conservation
- Plant Identification and Characteristics
For optimal exam preparation, candidates should:
1. Review all sections thoroughly, focusing on areas of weakness
2. Study the rationales to understand the underlying concepts
3. Visit native Hawaiian plant gardens and natural areas for hands-on identification practice
4. Engage with cultural practitioners and native plant nurseries
5. Stay informed about current conservation issues and invasive species management
6. Review the Hawaii State Board of Landscape Architects regulations and examination
guidelines
SCHOLARSOURCE 1
,Mahalo nui loa for your dedication to sustainable, culturally appropriate, and ecologically
sound landscape architecture in Hawai'i. May your designs honor the 'āina and contribute to
the well-being of the land, the people, and future generations.
Aloha 'āina!
SECTION 1: NATIVE HAWAIIAN PLANTS – ENDEMIC AND INDIGENOUS SPECIES
1. Which native Hawaiian plant is known as a "canoe plant" and was brought by Polynesian
voyagers?
A. Koa
B. 'Ōhi'a lehua
C. Kalo (taro)
D. Naupaka
Answer: C. Kalo (taro)
Rationale: Kalo (Colocasia esculenta) was one of the most important canoe plants—
cultigens intentionally brought by Polynesian settlers. It is central to Hawaiian culture, diet,
and spirituality, forming the basis of the traditional Hawaiian diet through poi and other
preparations. In Hawaiian cosmology, kalo is considered the elder sibling of the Hawaiian
people, originating from the first-born child of Wākea and Hoʻohokukalani.
2. The naupaka plant (Scaevola taccada) is known for its distinctive:
A. Half-flowers
B. Red flowers
SCHOLARSOURCE 2
,C. Spiny leaves
D. Fragrant blossoms
Answer: A. Half-flowers
Rationale: Naupaka flowers have a distinctive fan-like shape with petals arranged on only
one side, creating the appearance of half a flower. This characteristic morphology is unique
to the genus Scaevola, which comes from the Latin "scaevus" meaning "left-handed." The
flowers are typically white with purple streaks and bloom year-round. Naupaka is a key
coastal species for dune stabilization and salt-tolerant landscaping.
3. In Hawaiian legend, the naupaka plant represents:
A. Separated lovers
B. The goddess Pele
C. The creation of the islands
D. The first humans
Answer: A. Separated lovers
Rationale: The famous legend tells of two lovers, Naupaka and Kauʻi, who were separated
by social rank. One naupaka flower remained in the mountains (Scaevola gaudichaudiana)
and one by the sea (Scaevola taccada), explaining the plant's presence in both habitats. The
incomplete flower symbolizes their eternal separation and longing. This legend is one of
Hawaii's most enduring plant stories, taught to children and referenced in Hawaiian
literature and art.
4. Which of the following is an indigenous Hawaiian plant (found both in Hawai'i and
elsewhere naturally)?
A. Hala (Pandanus tectorius)
B. 'Ākia (Wikstroemia uva-ursi)
C. Ma'o (Hibiscus brackenridgei)
D. 'Ilima (Sida fallax)
SCHOLARSOURCE 3
, Answer: A. Hala (Pandanus tectorius)
Rationale: Hala is indigenous to Hawai'i, meaning it arrived naturally via long-distance
dispersal (ocean currents, wind, or birds) without human assistance, but is also found
throughout the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, and Australia. The others listed are endemic
to Hawai'i. Hala's distinctive prop roots and screw-like leaf arrangement make it an iconic
coastal plant useful for erosion control.
5. The koa tree (Acacia koa) is prized for its wood. Which of the following describes its
native habitat?
A. Lowland dry forests
B. Mesic to wet forests at higher elevations
C. Coastal strand
D. Wetlands and stream banks
Answer: B. Mesic to wet forests at higher elevations
Rationale: Koa grows naturally in mesic to wet forests at elevations ranging from 300 to
2,000 meters (approximately 1,000 to 6,500 feet), often occurring in mixed-species stands
with 'ōhi'a. It thrives in well-drained, deep soils and is rarely found in coastal or dry
lowland areas. Koa is Hawaii's largest native tree, reaching heights of over 100 feet, and its
prized wood is used in furniture, crafts, and canoe building.
6. Koa (Acacia koa) exhibits which unique leaf morphology as it matures?
A. Bipinnately compound leaves (juvenile) to sickle-shaped phyllodes (adult)
B. Simple leaves throughout its life
C. Needle-like leaves
D. Palmate compound leaves
Answer: A. Bipinnately compound leaves (juvenile) to sickle-shaped phyllodes (adult)
SCHOLARSOURCE 4
Materials Exam. The guide covers all major topic areas including:
- Native Hawaiian Plants (Endemic and Indigenous Species)
- Polynesian Introductions and Canoe Plants
- Rare and Endangered Species
- Invasive and Nuisance Species
- Landscape Design Principles Using Native Plants
- Propagation and Cultivation Techniques
- Ecological and Cultural Considerations
- Medicinal, Material, and Cultural Applications
- Plant Ecology and Conservation
- Plant Identification and Characteristics
For optimal exam preparation, candidates should:
1. Review all sections thoroughly, focusing on areas of weakness
2. Study the rationales to understand the underlying concepts
3. Visit native Hawaiian plant gardens and natural areas for hands-on identification practice
4. Engage with cultural practitioners and native plant nurseries
5. Stay informed about current conservation issues and invasive species management
6. Review the Hawaii State Board of Landscape Architects regulations and examination
guidelines
SCHOLARSOURCE 1
,Mahalo nui loa for your dedication to sustainable, culturally appropriate, and ecologically
sound landscape architecture in Hawai'i. May your designs honor the 'āina and contribute to
the well-being of the land, the people, and future generations.
Aloha 'āina!
SECTION 1: NATIVE HAWAIIAN PLANTS – ENDEMIC AND INDIGENOUS SPECIES
1. Which native Hawaiian plant is known as a "canoe plant" and was brought by Polynesian
voyagers?
A. Koa
B. 'Ōhi'a lehua
C. Kalo (taro)
D. Naupaka
Answer: C. Kalo (taro)
Rationale: Kalo (Colocasia esculenta) was one of the most important canoe plants—
cultigens intentionally brought by Polynesian settlers. It is central to Hawaiian culture, diet,
and spirituality, forming the basis of the traditional Hawaiian diet through poi and other
preparations. In Hawaiian cosmology, kalo is considered the elder sibling of the Hawaiian
people, originating from the first-born child of Wākea and Hoʻohokukalani.
2. The naupaka plant (Scaevola taccada) is known for its distinctive:
A. Half-flowers
B. Red flowers
SCHOLARSOURCE 2
,C. Spiny leaves
D. Fragrant blossoms
Answer: A. Half-flowers
Rationale: Naupaka flowers have a distinctive fan-like shape with petals arranged on only
one side, creating the appearance of half a flower. This characteristic morphology is unique
to the genus Scaevola, which comes from the Latin "scaevus" meaning "left-handed." The
flowers are typically white with purple streaks and bloom year-round. Naupaka is a key
coastal species for dune stabilization and salt-tolerant landscaping.
3. In Hawaiian legend, the naupaka plant represents:
A. Separated lovers
B. The goddess Pele
C. The creation of the islands
D. The first humans
Answer: A. Separated lovers
Rationale: The famous legend tells of two lovers, Naupaka and Kauʻi, who were separated
by social rank. One naupaka flower remained in the mountains (Scaevola gaudichaudiana)
and one by the sea (Scaevola taccada), explaining the plant's presence in both habitats. The
incomplete flower symbolizes their eternal separation and longing. This legend is one of
Hawaii's most enduring plant stories, taught to children and referenced in Hawaiian
literature and art.
4. Which of the following is an indigenous Hawaiian plant (found both in Hawai'i and
elsewhere naturally)?
A. Hala (Pandanus tectorius)
B. 'Ākia (Wikstroemia uva-ursi)
C. Ma'o (Hibiscus brackenridgei)
D. 'Ilima (Sida fallax)
SCHOLARSOURCE 3
, Answer: A. Hala (Pandanus tectorius)
Rationale: Hala is indigenous to Hawai'i, meaning it arrived naturally via long-distance
dispersal (ocean currents, wind, or birds) without human assistance, but is also found
throughout the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, and Australia. The others listed are endemic
to Hawai'i. Hala's distinctive prop roots and screw-like leaf arrangement make it an iconic
coastal plant useful for erosion control.
5. The koa tree (Acacia koa) is prized for its wood. Which of the following describes its
native habitat?
A. Lowland dry forests
B. Mesic to wet forests at higher elevations
C. Coastal strand
D. Wetlands and stream banks
Answer: B. Mesic to wet forests at higher elevations
Rationale: Koa grows naturally in mesic to wet forests at elevations ranging from 300 to
2,000 meters (approximately 1,000 to 6,500 feet), often occurring in mixed-species stands
with 'ōhi'a. It thrives in well-drained, deep soils and is rarely found in coastal or dry
lowland areas. Koa is Hawaii's largest native tree, reaching heights of over 100 feet, and its
prized wood is used in furniture, crafts, and canoe building.
6. Koa (Acacia koa) exhibits which unique leaf morphology as it matures?
A. Bipinnately compound leaves (juvenile) to sickle-shaped phyllodes (adult)
B. Simple leaves throughout its life
C. Needle-like leaves
D. Palmate compound leaves
Answer: A. Bipinnately compound leaves (juvenile) to sickle-shaped phyllodes (adult)
SCHOLARSOURCE 4
