Ama'u ferns sprouting from a crack in lava rock, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii (© Frans Lanting Studio/Alamy)

【March 25 2014】The ʻamaʻu is a fern native to Hawaii and most commonly seen growing on or near paths through lava flows in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The slow-growing fern is often tinged red or reddish-brown when young, a way of preventing sun damage during early development. Much folklore surrounds the plant, including the belief that if an ‘ama'u fern grows straight up, a flood is coming. Fronds from the fully grown plant were traditionally used for roof thatching and in the production of a local textile called kapa cloth.Explore breathtaking Gallery from the HuluTrip homepage over the past 5 years..