KCC Buildings

<TITLE>nativelama</TITLE> <META NAME="GENERATOR" CONTENT="Internet Assistant for Microsoft Word 2.0 beta 1"> </HEAD> <BODY bgcolor="#ffffff"> <P> <H1 align=center>Kapi`olani Community College Library</H1> <center><table border=8 cellpadding=6><tr><td> <h1 align=center><font color="#5c4003">Campus Buildings and Native Plants</font></h2></tr> </table></center> <P><BR> <center><img src="ilimabar1.jpg" height=6 width=500 alt=""></center> <P> Kapi`olani Community College is a two-year college in the University of Hawai`i system with programs that focus on degrees in:<BR> <center><table> <tr><td><a href="http://ryu.kcc.hawaii.edu/~bused/"> Business</a><td>Health Services</tr> <tr><td><a href="http://lama.kcc.hawaii.edu/ems/">Emergency Medical Services</a><td>Liberal Arts</tr> <tr><td><a href="http://leahi.kcc.hawaii.edu/fshe/"> Food Services and Hospitality<td>Nursing</a></tr></table></center> <P> When planning the relocation of the college, KCC staff had the opportunity to design its own facilities. Built on land formerly used by the military for Fort Ruger, KCC is one of the most modern and architecturally integrated campuses in Hawai`i. One of the unique features of this campus is the building names. As a reminder to future generations of students of the natural environment that was once here, KCC's buildings are named after plants that are found only in Hawai`i. Some of buildings have their namesake plant at their entrance, on this web page we will introduce you to the plants and the buildings on KCC's campus. <P> If you are new to KCC you will want to visit our Admissions and Records Office located in `Ilima building.<a href="ilima.html" name="ilima"> <i>`Ilima</i></a> is a hardy shrub found in dryland to coastal environments. It grows on all the islands. Visit a coastal environment after the winter rains and you'll be sure to find <a href="ilimapapa.html" name="ilimapapa"><i>`ilima papa</i></a> (the creeping ilima) covered with velvety light green leaves and delicate, pale orange blossoms. It takes about 2000 of these blossoms to create an <i>ilima</i> lei. <P> <a href="iliahi.html" name="iliahi"><I>`Iliahi</I></a> is sandalwood, in Hawai`i there are ___ species of Hawaiian <I>`iliahi</I>. Once a common lowland forest tree, <I>`iliahi</I> was heavily logged in the early 1800's for trade with China. This tree is difficult to grow commercially because it is a root parasite. It is parasitic on another plant as a seedling. The most common species has tender lavender colored leaf shoots, a distinctive color in the native forest. <P> Our students get together in `Ohi`a cafeteria. <a href="ohia.html" name="ohia"><I>`Ohi`a</I></a> is one of the two most common Hawaiian forest trees. It is one of the plant forms of the hula deity Laka and is a favorite in traditional lei making. Its young and mature leaf shoots, buds and flowers can all be used in lei making. In the native forest its flowers provide nectar for the native birds, the <i>`i`iwi</i> and <i>`apapane</i>. <P> The community is very familiar with the `Ohelo Dining Room where one can enjoy excellent economical gourmet meals prepared by KCC students. <a href="ohelo.html" name="ohelo"><I>`Ohelo</I></a> is a relative of the North American huckleberry or blueberry. Thousands of years ago seeds of a North American huckleberry or blueberry arrived Hawai`i in the gut of a bird. Once here the species adapted to a wide range of environments. A visit to Volcano National Park will acquaint you with this plant. <P> If you've watched Hawai`i Interactive Television (HITS) you may know that this programming is developed at KCC's Educational Media Center in Naio Building. <a href="naio.html" name="naio"><I>Naio</I></a> is called false sandalwood in English. It was possibly logged as a substitute for the true <I>`iliahi</I>. It favors dry coastal environments, and is an excellent landscape plant for dry areas. <P> If you need to get your daily dose of CNN, Lama Library is the place to go. <I>Lama</I> is another plant form of the hula deity Laka and also represents enlightenment. In ancient times a block of lama was the focal point of an altar in a halau because it represented the deity Laka. This tree is in the persimmon family and once a year is covered with bright, thumbnail-size, orange fruit, like tiny ornaments.<BR> <P> Koa Gallery is a small venue for students and other local artists. <a href="koa.html" name="koa"><i>Koa</i></a> is the other tree most commonly seen in the native Hawaiian forest. Growing up to 50 - 60 feet, it was the premier timber tree. Its light-green crescent shaped "leaves" are actually modified stems - a water saving adaptation!<BR> <P> `Olapa Building houses unique classrooms designed for teaching hotel operations. <a href="olapa.html" name="olapa"><i>`Olapa</I></a> is a middle-sized tree in the Hawaiian rainforest. Its leaves make a distinctive fluttering sound in the wind. <i>`Olapa</i> is also the Hawaiian word for dancer - perhaps an allusion to the graceful way the leaves of this tree flutter in the wind.<BR> <P> Koki`o is a general classroom building. This is a generic name for native Hawaiian hibiscus. The <a href="kokio.html" name="kokio"><i>koki`o</i></a> planted in front of the building is a <i>koki`o ke`oke`o</i> or white hibiscus, the only hibiscus with a fragrance. Other varieties of native hibiscus have red, yellow or orange blossoms. <P> Manono Building houses the offices which organize the non-credit programs for KCC. <a href="manono.html" name="manono"><i>Manono</i></a> is a dry to wet forest shrub with delicate pale green to white flowers. <P> When the first Polynesians settled in Hawai`i 2000 years ago this was truly paradise. No animals existed here that would bite or sting, only two thorny plants among the thousands of trees and shrubs. Over millions of years plants and animals that inhabited Hawai`i evolved into unique forms found nowhere else on earth. O`ahu today is a completely different environment. Vast tracks of land are used for our homes, businesses and schools. The names of these buildings will remind us of what is truly Hawaiian - the original settlers of Hawai`i and how they adapted to make Hawai`i their only home. <P><BR> <center><img src="ilimabar1.jpg" height=6 width=500 alt=""></center> <p> Copyright Suzan Harada, coordinator of Interpret Hawai`i Programs, Office of Community Services. Kapi`olani Community College. <p> Kapi`olani Community College <a href="http://www.kcc.hawaii.edu/kcc_map/kcc_map2.html">Campus Map </a> </BODY>