Hawai’i Field Guides — Reference Books
You don’t need to know the name of the species you’re looking at in order to nature journal. But at some point, we want to learn more about that bird, plant or tree! These books are all ones that I’ve used or had recommended to me to learn about the local plants and animals of Hawaii.
Also, view this post on online field guides to help investigate and learn about Hawaii’s species on your computer!
Birds
Hawaii’s Birds: Considered the definitive field guide to both native and introduced birds, by the Hawaii Audubon Society. Also be sure to check out their in-depth books on both the Kolea and Manu-o-ku.
Field Guide to Birds of Hawaii: by the American Birding Association.
Hawaii Birds (Pocket Naturalist Guide): lightweight and laminated.
Checklist: Garden Birds: free printable checklist by Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens.
Migratory Shorebirds: small but useful printable by Ariel Illustrates.
Don’t forget about the eBird and MerlinID apps!
Native Plants
Flowers of Hawai’i: A durable, easy-to-use field booklet created by Laulima.
Amy Greenwell Garden Ethnobotanical Guide to Native Hawaiian Plants & Polynesian-Introduced Plants: Clear photos and descriptions of native plants and their uses.
Go Native! is a understandable, informative book with ideas for how to plan a yard or large area with native plants.
All Flora
I found these two books by Mark Merlin to be very helpful in identifying common plants in Hawai’i, both native and introduced:
Hawaiian Coastal Plants
Hawaiian Forest Plants
Mushrooms of Hawai’i: An Identification Guide
From Bess Press:
Hawai‘i Wetland Field Guide
A Field Guide to Hawaii’s Coastal Organisms: Algae and Invertebrates
Guides/manuals recommended by others (I haven’t seen them so can’t vouch for them)
Hawaiian Plant Life: Vegetation and Flora
Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai’i: Two-volume set, very comprehensive reference manual.
A Pocket Guide to Hawai‘i’s Trees and Shrubs by Douglas Pratt
Hawai‘i’s Plants and Animals: Biological Sketches of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park by Charles P.
Stone and Linda W. Pratt
Other
First Aid and Medical Treatment of Injuries in Hawaii: Books about first aid by the wonderful Susan Scott and her husband Craig Thomas, MD. Bonus: on her website is an archive of her long-running Ocean Watch column from the Star Advertiser.
