The plant communities include open
shrublands,
grasslands, and
deserts. Shrubland species include āheahea (
Chenopodium oahuense), ōhelo ai (
Vaccinium reticulatum), naenae (
Dubautia menziesii), and iliahi (
Santalum haleakalae). Alpine grasslands are dominated by
tussock grasses, such as
Deschampsia nubigena,
Eragrostis atropioides,
Panicum tenuifolium, and pili uka (
Trisetum glomeratum). Deserts occur on the coldest and driest peaks, where only extremely hardy plants such as āhinahina (
Argyroxiphium sandwicense) and
Dubautia species are able to grow. ==Fauna==