The Haleakala silversword, or ahinahina, is federally listed as threatened and is found only on the slopes of Haleakala at altitudes above 6,900 feet. -- The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
A woman from India and her male companion from California were each issued citations and fined $200 plus court fees for removing and being in possession of two young silverswords taken from Haleakala National Park on June 26.
Bidya Gangopadhyay and Daibashish Gangopadhyay were cited for possessing, destroying or injuring plants from their natural state, according to their citations. National Park Service officials were not immediately forthcoming with the names but The Maui News managed to obtain information from the citation. Their ages and relationship were unavailable.
Park officials noted the backlash on social media to the removal of the protected silverswords.
At about 4:30 p.m. June 26, a park visitor witnessed a woman removing two keiki silversword plants from the ground and placing them in her clothing before leaving the area in a vehicle, park officials said. The witness took a picture of the vehicle and notified Haleakala National Park staff, who alerted park law enforcement.
Park rangers were able to locate the woman in Paia about an hour later with the plants, which were recovered. Bidya Gangopadhyay was the one cited for taking the silverswords and Daibashish Gangopadhyay for being the driver of the vehicle with the plants.
Park enforcement and the U.S. attorney’s office in Honolulu decided against charging the two visitors with federal felony criminal counts, which, if convicted, could lead to jail time and fines, said Park Chief Ranger Ari Wong earlier this week.
“Based on the totality of the circumstances,” and that they immediately admitted guilt, “we decided not to pursue more aggressive criminal charges,” Wong said. The visitors said the silverswords looked nice and that they did not know it was illegal to remove them from the park.
Park officials and the U.S. attorney’s office determined that the crimes did not rise to the level of criminal charges and that the citation was “the most appropriate” course, Wong said. Someone who is poaching, deliberately taking lots of plants or destroying parklands and property could be subject to the more serious federal felony charges.
Wong said that the two silverswords were rehabilitating in a greenhouse and were “looking OK.” They were removed with their roots intact, he said. The two silverswords were expected to be replanted soon.
The Haleakala silversword, or ahinahina (argyroxiphium sandwicense subspecies macrocephalum), is federally listed as threatened and is found only on the slopes of Haleakala at altitudes above 6,900 feet.
The silvery hairs, fleshy leaves and low-growing rosette allow the unique plant to survive in hot, dry climates like the desert cinder cone slopes of the Haleakala Crater, the park website said. Silverswords live between 3 and 90 years or more. They flower once, sending up an eye-catching flowering stalk, and then die soon afterward, scattering drying seeds to the wind.
Thefts of silverswords occur occasionally, said Wong, who could not recall the last attempted theft. He pointed out that the silversword plant would not survive outside the unique environment of Haleakala.
Park officials lauded the woman who observed the silverswords being removed from the park. Wong said that most visitors are protective of the national park.
“Visitors to the park respect the park and enjoy the park and want others to enjoy it,” Wong said. “They take it personally” when people take away the “ability of everyone to enjoy it.”
“People have a strong sense of stewardship,” Wong said. “It’s always been the case that people . . . notify us but even more now.”
In the days following the silversword theft, there was another alert issued involving a silversword theft at Haleakala. Wong said that call turned out to be people taking rocks — which also is illegal — and led to the issuing of a ticket.
* Lee Imada can be reached at leeimada@mauinews.com.
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