PHYTCGEOGRAPHY OF MANOA VALLEY, HAWAIIAN ISLANDS 597 
the head of Manoa. Although not physiographically an integral 
part of the Manoa region, it is of such ecologic importance that it is 
considered herewith. 
The airline distance from the valley-head precipices to the extreme 
summit of Kona-hua-nui is about one mile. The most northern 
branch of Manoa Stream originates at an elevation of about 2,600 feet, 
very near the mountain summit. There is no other point along the 
Manoa summit-ridge that rises above 2,400 feet, and the average is 
about 2,200 feet. Thus all of the Kona-hua-nui region above 2,400 
Fig. 13. Trail and camp in the Manoa rain forest. In the upper portion of a 
hanging valley on the side of Kona-hua-nui. 
feet comprises a life area which is without counterpart in any other 
adjacent portion of the Manoa mountains. Certain plants are very 
distinctive of these upper levels, and are rarely or never met below 
the 2,400-ft. contour. Some of these are: Hesperomannia arborescens, 
Cheirodendron platyphyllum, Exocarpus brachystachys, Vaccinium 
penduliflorum var. gemmacetim, Lobelia Gaudichaudii, Lobelia macro- 
stachys, etc. 
Owing to its elevation Kona-hua-nui is a great rain-maker. The 
trade winds become chilled in rising over it, the copious moisture 
condenses, and a characteristic cloud-cap covers the mountain summit 
