Aloha! Hawaiian Rain Forest Stamps

The natural beauty of Hawaii grace letters and packages with the Hawaiian Rain Forest stamp pane dedicated at a ceremony in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park earlier this week.

Featuring a Hawaiian rain forest, the 2010 collectable stamp pane — the 12th and final in the educational Nature of America stamp series — focuses on the beauty and complexity of major plant and animal communities in the nation’s 50th state.

To illustrate the spectacular biodiversity of a Hawaiian rain forest, artist John Dawson includes 24 different species. Although the scene in the pane is imaginary, each species depicted can be found in a Hawaiian rain forest. Also, all of the species and their interactions are appropriate and were recommended by scientists.