Wow how amazing that you were able to find this plant up in your mountains!
I would almost expect to see it along your shoreline as seeds from plants do travel by the oceans currents and can grow where they land- which infact so many Polynesian plants are thought to have originated from the Southern American regions too, but u in the mountains- wow!
Coming from Australia, I used to live in Cairns in Far North Queensland, which is a seriously tropical area, having wet seasons and the Daintree Rainforest and I used to Hula dance with a group of people from all over the Polynesian Islands and the guys also used the leaves on this plant to braid into headbands for each performance too!
I will try to find some photos of us dancing with all of the braided vines, leaves and grass skirts on! 😃
And thanks so much for taking us on such a pretty and informative walk through nature with you!