Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site

A tropical thorn bush, Prosopis, (also called kiawe) was introduced in the early 1800s as a source of food for cattle. The shrub (tree) produces an abundance of pea-like pods. The exotic species has spread throughout the Kona coastal region. Although the plant made good forage for cattle, it now is a hazard in beach areas where thorns can injure tourists. However, it is one of the few shade trees that can survive long drought periods and high salt concentrations on the dry side of the Hawaiian islands (USFS, [2010]).