Wet Cliff System

Natural communities occupying steep (>65º) slopes in regions receiving greater than 75 inches annual precipitation, or otherwise bearing prevailingly wet substrate conditions comprise the wet cliff system in the Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion. This system is found on the islands of Hawai‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i, and is best developed on the windward sides of the islands, for example, the steepest portions of the windward flank of West Maui, the headwalls of the wet northern valleys of East Moloka‘i, the summit cliffs of Lāna‘i, the steeper slopes surrounding Ka‘ala in the Wai‘anae Mountains (O‘ahu), and the windward cliffs adjacent to Wai‘ale‘ale, Kaua‘i. It occurs typically below or adjacent to either the lowland wet system or the montane wet system, and is sometimes the system separating the two. 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 some specialized plants occur there.

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

The distribution of the Wet Cliff System across the Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion is depicted below:

The Wet Cliff System on Moloka'i (red areas above) is prominent along the windward cliffs of the East Moloka'i conservation area.

The Wet Cliff System on O'ahu (red areas above) is prominent along the windward cliffs of the Ko'olau conservation area (right), but restricted to a small area of sheer cliffs surrounding the montane summit of the Wai'anae conservation area (left).

The Wet Cliff System on Kaua'i (red areas above) occurs primarily in the deeply dissected system of valleys running outward from the wet summit plateau region.

	Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion This page last revised 23 August 2006 -- S.M.Gon III
Home Introduction Ecoregion Conservation Targets Viability Goals Portfolio TNC Action Sites Threats Strategies Acknowledgements ▫ Tables Maps & Figures CPT Database Appendices Glossary Sources . Native plants of the wet cliff system such as Lobelia gaudichaudii must endure strong buffetting tradewinds. Uluhe ferns (Dicranopteris spp.) can dominate wet cliff systems	Wet Cliff System Natural communities occupying steep (>65º) slopes in regions receiving greater than 75 inches annual precipitation, or otherwise bearing prevailingly wet substrate conditions comprise the wet cliff system in the Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion. This system is found on the islands of Hawai‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i, and is best developed on the windward sides of the islands, for example, the steepest portions of the windward flank of West Maui, the headwalls of the wet northern valleys of East Moloka‘i, the summit cliffs of Lāna‘i, the steeper slopes surrounding Ka‘ala in the Wai‘anae Mountains (O‘ahu), and the windward cliffs adjacent to Wai‘ale‘ale, Kaua‘i. It occurs typically below or adjacent to either the lowland wet system or the montane wet system, and is sometimes the system separating the two. 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 some specialized plants occur there. Natural communities and species of this system are listed among nested targets via the appendices. The distribution of the Wet Cliff System across the Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion is depicted below: The Wet Cliff System on Moloka'i (red areas above) is prominent along the windward cliffs of the East Moloka'i conservation area. The Wet Cliff System on O'ahu (red areas above) is prominent along the windward cliffs of the Ko'olau conservation area (right), but restricted to a small area of sheer cliffs surrounding the montane summit of the Wai'anae conservation area (left). The Wet Cliff System on Kaua'i (red areas above) occurs primarily in the deeply dissected system of valleys running outward from the wet summit plateau region.	The Wet Cliff System in Hawai‘i is characterized by shrublands and grasslands on near-vertical slopes striped by waterfalls. The Wet Cliff System on Hawai‘i Island(red areas above) is restricted to only two conservation areas (Kohala and Ka‘ū-Kapāpala). The Wet Cliff System on Maui (red areas above) occurs primarily along windward (north and east) valley walls in the East Maui conservation area, and throughout the deeply dissected West Maui conservation area. The Wet Cliff System on Lāna'i (red areas above) is restricted to a small area of cliffs surrounding the montane summit of the conservation area.