Guinea Grass

 This is Guinea Grass one of the most concerning invasive species of Kauai. You see it everywhere along roadsides and in open fields. It grows quickly and densely and simply chokes out plants that cannot keep up.

Invasive species are an intense topic in any setting where people want to see things remain as they have been. In the lake country of the north, you constantly hear about Zebra Mussels and Eurasian Milfoil. We are told to carefully check our boats when we take them out of the water to avoid introducing these species to a lake they have yet to populate. I suppose Creeping Charlie or Crab Grass would be examples of an invasive species familiar to anyone with a lawn. An invasive species is different from a mere weed in its ability to in some way out complete traditional plants. In Kauai things just grow bigger and faster because of the climate and perhaps are thus of a greater concern to a location in which so much depends on natural and traditional beauty.