From the pasture to the present, the history of grass introductions in Hawai'i

Kevin Faccenda, Ph.D., Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum

Summary: Before European contact, Hawai‘i had very few natural grasslands, but the rise of cattle ranching in the 1800s sparked a massive importation of foreign grasses that forever changed the islands' landscapes. By reviewing historical and agricultural records, I tracked the arrival of nearly 600 grass species, revealing how deliberate agricultural plantings—rather than just accidental weeds—became the primary source of invasions in Hawai‘i's natural areas. While intentional introductions have slowed in recent decades, these foreign grasses and new accidental arrivals continue to spread today, presenting an ongoing ecological challenge for the islands.

Bio: Kevin Faccenda is a botanist and researcher with the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, where he specializes in the identification and management of invasive plant species. Through extensive fieldwork across the Hawaiian Islands, Kevin has documented nearly 100 naturalized weeds previously unrecorded in the state. He earned his PhD from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, focusing specifically on the importation history and biogeography of grasses. His research highlights a critical gap in conservation: despite the severe fire and ecological risks they pose, invasive grasses are chronically under-researched, often existing on the landscape for decades before being properly identified.