Explore the many ecological zones and habitats of our islands and discover why Hawai'i is one of the most special places on Earth. Journey high to an alpine desert at the summit of Mauna Kea where you will meet the unusual we'kiu bug who has adapted to survive the extreme conditions of his alpine home. Travel down to the alpine shrublands to meet Sylvia and Sylvester Silversword, two beautiful native plants who tell us the challenges they have faced over the years. They also teach us about their unusually diverse family tree and how 28 species of the silversword family evolved from a single ancestor through the process of adaptive radiation. You'll also meet Samantha Subalpine Forest, Monique Montane Mesic Forest, Raymond Rainforest, and Drake Dryforest, four very different kinds of forests found on our islands, each who offer a unique array of native plants and animals. They share with us why they are special and their role as watersheds, illustrating why they are an important resource that needs to be preserved. Finally you'll hear the song of four endangered birds, Nene, Palila, 'Akiapola'au and Po'ouli, one of the rarest birds in the world. They question their future, hoping not to meet the same fate as many of our native birds who no longer are found flying through our forests. Under the Hawaiian Sky celebrates the many unique plants and creatures who cannot be found anywhere else in the world and illustrates why we must protect them and preserve the fragile habitats in which they live. For in depth information on topics relating to the show, please click on the headings in the left frame (if you've come to this page from a search engine and do not see the left frame, please click on the link below to go to our "Home Page", then visit our "Educational Road Shows" for this subject matter).
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