Natural communities occupying steep (>65º) slopes  in regions receiving less than 75 inches annual precipitation, or otherwise bearing prevailingly dry substrate conditions comprise the dry cliff system in the Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion. This system is found on the islands of Hawai‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, Kaho‘olawe, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i, and is best developed on the leeward sides of the islands, for example, the steepest portions of the leeward flank of West Maui, the cliffs of East Moloka‘i, the seacliffs of Lāna‘i and Kaho‘olawe, the steeper slopes of the Wai‘anae Mountains (O‘ahu), and the leeward canyonlands of Kaua‘i. It occurs typically below or adjacent to either the lowland mesic system or the lowland dry system. There are a number of natural communities described within this system, typically a variety of grasslands and shrublands, the slopes being too steep to support forests. Biological diversity is low to moderate in this system, and specialized plants occur there, such as Brighamia and Tetramolopium.

Tetramolopium filiforme, an endangered aster, occurs only on dry cliffs of the Wai'anae conservation area on O'ahu. 


Brighami insignis grows only on the Napali Coast of Kaua'i. Brighamia are cliff-adapted Hawaiian lobeliads with a rosette of leaves atop a thick stem. Photo: Harold St. John.




The Dry Cliff System on Kaua'i (red outlined shaded areas above) occurs on steep-sided interior canyons and northern seacliffs.



Natural communities and species of this system are listed among nested targets via the appendices.

The Dry Cliff System in Hawai‘i includes some of the most rugged and steep topography; refugia for many rare plant species.

The Dry Cliff System on Hawai‘i Island(red outlined shaded areas above) occurs in only the oldest and most eroded conservation area: Kohala.