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 from 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 about both the kōlea and manu-o-ku.
Two books I recommend from the Hawaii Wildlife Center Shop: Field Guide to Birds of Hawaii by the American Birding Association and A Pocket Naturalist Hawaiʻi Birds-A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Species.
Hawaii Birds (Pocket Naturalist Guide): lightweight and laminated.
Don’t forget about the eBird and MerlinID apps!
Native Plants
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 an easy to read, informative book with suggestions on planting a yard or large area with native plants. Includes how to identify and care for these plants as well.
All Flora and Fauna
I found these two books to be very helpful in identifying common plants in Hawai’i, both native and introduced:
Hawaiian Coastal Plants by Mark Melin
Hawaiian Forest Plants by Mark Merlin
Mushrooms of Hawai’i: An Identification Guide by Don E Hemmes and Dennis E Desjardin (note: this is an affiliate link, I will get a portion of the sale at no added cost to you)
A Pocket Guide to Hawai’i’s Tide Pools and Reefs by Keoki Stender and Yuko Stender (note: this is an affiliate link, I will get a portion of the sale at no added cost to you)
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 read any of these so I can’t vouch for them.
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
Hawaiian Plant Life: Vegetation and Flora by Robert J. Gustafson, Derral R. Herbst, Philip W. Rundel
Hawaii: a Natural History by Sherwin Carlquist
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.
