Go for it and just enjoy it. Year round growth, year round bugs and year round slugs. Otherwise, what's not to like?

Bring pruning shears and buy Neem Oil for an environmental safe bug killer.

Phil

I realize this posting is quite late. But for you and any others that have a passion for plants, I might venture toward native plant (and animal) conservation and preservation. There is a ton of stuff that can be researched, propagated & grown "successfully", photographed, etc. in Hawaii. We have numerous endangered species that need immediate attention.
Just ask and I'll point you in several directions. I have many connections here. Aloha a hui hou

hi deweydave, i'm asking.

Just keep in mind that things grow like crazy here. Prior to moving here, I gardened in Colorado, New Mexico, and Nebraska. I had no idea! I planted all these little plants in a flower bed in front of our front door, thinking that they would grow to nice little 3-4' bushes in a couple years, like they maybe would do on the mainland if I was very good to them. Ha! One of these suckers is now a tree that I have to keep pruning down to knee-high once it reaches about 8'! So, the moral of the story: Give your plants plenty of room to spread out.

Honu,
Unless you have a botanical degree or something of the sort, you may want to volunteer for a while. Opportunities will open up and you will be in a good position to make a choice from there. You can try Waimea Valley Audubon Center, The Nature Conservancy, or a number of other Hawaiian native plant & animal concerned organizations here in Hawaii.
Also, look under the heading "Native Hawaiian Plant Lovers" on the GardenWeb. Posted on Feb. 4, 2005.
Aloha