Kauaʻi Diverse Lowland Mesic Forest

Kauaʻi evidence

Classification/source support: SRC-HAB-003

Names and classification

Scientific name

Not applicable

Common names

Kauaʻi Diverse Lowland Mesic Forest

Hawaiian names

Not assessed

Record type

habitat

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Kauaʻi occurrence

Present

Origin

Native natural habitat

Conservation status

Rare natural community

Evidence date

2026-09-13

Evidence limits

This record represents an operational habitat class, not every site-specific plant association or mapped polygon.

Habitat and ecology

Habitats

Kauaʻi Diverse Lowland Mesic Forest

Food and resource needs

Not applicable

Reproduction

Not applicable

Shelter

Not applicable

Substrate

Weathered volcanic soils

Threats and conservation

Threats

Invasive plants, ungulates, wildfire, disease, fragmentation, erosion and climate shifts can alter habitat structure and native composition.

Conservation actions

Protect habitat extent and connectivity, control invasive species and damaging disturbance, restore native structure/processes, and monitor condition.

Monitoring

Track extent, condition, hydrology/physical structure, native/alien composition, disturbance exposure and restoration response.

Data gaps

Exact islandwide area, condition and trend may vary by source layer and mapping scale.

Process and seasonal context

Seasonal timing

Year-round unless hydrologically seasonal

Seasonal description

Kauaʻi Diverse Lowland Mesic Forest is a documented Kauaʻi habitat type in the terrestrial system.

Place and watershed context

Habitat system

Terrestrial

Habitat class

natural

Moisture regime

Mesic

Salinity regime

Fresh

Water regime

Terrestrial

Vegetation structure

Diverse native forest

Sources and further reading

• https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/nars/kauai/kuia-2/