coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) observed in Oʻahu, Kailua, HI, US
iNaturalist: jenniferlane
Citizen Science
Coconut palms lining Hawaiian beaches aren't native — tracking where they grow and thrive helps gardeners and conservationists understand how this iconic tropical tree spreads and competes with native coastal plants.
Someone spotted a coconut palm in Kailua, Oʻahu, and the sighting was confirmed as 'research grade' by the iNaturalist community, meaning multiple experts agreed on the identification. Coconut palms are not originally from Hawaii — they were brought by Polynesian voyagers and later spread widely. Records like this help build a picture of exactly where these trees are growing across the islands today.
Key Findings
Observation achieved research-grade status, indicating community-verified species identification
Location confirmed as Kailua, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi — a coastal urban area where coconut palms are commonly but not universally present
Data contributes to iNaturalist's aggregated occurrence records for Cocos nucifera in the Hawaiian Islands
chevron_right Technical Summary
A coconut palm was observed and confirmed at research grade in Kailua, on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaii. This citizen-science record adds a verified data point to the documented range and presence of coconut palms in the Hawaiian Islands.
Abstract Preview
Research-grade observation of coconut palm in Oʻahu, Kailua, HI, US.
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Species Mentioned
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The coconut is a member of the palm family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus Cocos. The term "coconut" can denote the whole coconut palm tree or the large hard fruit. Originally native to Central Indo-Pacific, they are ubiquitous in coastal tropical regions.