Natural communities between 2000 m (6000 ft) and 3000 m (9000 ft) elevation comprise the Subalpine System in the Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion. The Subalpine System is restricted to two islands: Hawai‘i and Maui, and occupies the near-summit regions of the highest mountains on those islands (Haleakalā on Maui; Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Hawai‘i) immediate below the alpine system, and immediately above montane dry and montane mesic systems.

There are several natural communities described within the subalpine system; including forest, shrublands, and grasslands. Raw biological diversity is not high in this system, but specialized plants and invertebrates occur there, as well as bird species adapted to foraging and nesting in subalpine habitats. These include one of the honeycreepers, the Palila (Loxioides baileui), Māmane-Naio (Sophora chrysophylla - Myoporum sandwicense) Subalpine Dry Forest, and Deschampsia nubigena Subalpine Dry Grassland. 

The Palila is a Hawaiian honeycreeper that requires intact
māmane-naio subalpine dyr forest. Photo: Jack Jeffrey.


Deschampsia grassland in the central district of Haleakalā, Maui.
Photo: Forest and Kim Starr. 

Subalpine natural communities are listed among nested targets via the appendices.

 

The Subalpine System in Hawai‘i lies largely above the clouds and is dominated by mesic to dry shrublands, grasslands, and a few forest types. Subalpine slopes of Haleakalā, Maui. Photo: Forest & Kim Starr.

The Subalpine System on Hawai‘i Island (red area) occurs in four conservation areas (Mauna Kea, Ka‘ū-Kapāpala, Kona,
and Pōhakuloa-Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a) from 6000-9000 feet elevation.


The Subalpine System on Maui (red area) occurs only in the East Maui conservation area, from 6000-9000 feet elevation.