Hawaii’s
official flowers are as diverse and beautiful as the islands
they represent. From white kukui blossoms to pink cottage
roses, these native flowers provide color and allure to each
of Hawaii’s main islands.
The official
state flower is the yellow hibiscus (hibiscus brackenridgei),
also known as the pua aloalo. Hawaiians originally adopted
the hibiscus flower (of all colors) as their official Territorial
flower in the early 1920s. It wasn’t until 1988, however,
that Hawaii’s legislature legally adopted the yellow
hibiscus as the official state flower.
The hibiscus
originated in Asia and the Pacific islands. It is believed
that there were originally only five hibiscus species native
to the Hawaiian islands. Subsequently, other varieties were
imported, and growers began to develop unique hybrids to produce
the variety of colors and sizes found today.
In addition
to the yellow hibiscus, each Hawaiian island has its own designated
official flower. Oahu's flower is the yellow ilima (Sida fallax),
which is a very popular flower used for leis. Each flower
is about an inch across and somewhat resembles a small hibiscus.
Early Hawaiians used ilima flowers as a cure for general illnesses.
Juice from the pressed flowers was given to children, and
pregnant women sometimes ate the flowers until childbirth.
The official
flower of the Big Island is the red ohia, which is the blossom
of the native ohia tree. Lehua blossoms can also be orange,
yellow or white. The flower is often used for leis. It’s
said that the lehua flower is sacred to Pele, Hawaii’s
volcano goddess.
Kauai’s
flower actually isn’t a flower at all: The mokihana
(Pelea anisata) is a green berry grown only on the slopes
of Mount Waialelae. Strung like beads and woven with strands
of maile, these hardy berries have a scent of anise.
Maui’s
flower is the pink lokelani (Rosa damascena), or pink cottage
rose. Brought to the Islands in the 1800s, the lokelani is
prized by gardeners for its beauty and fragrance. The lokelani
is the only non-native plant to be recognized as the official
flower of any of the Hawaiian islands.
The flower
of Molokai is the white kukui blossom (Aleurites moluccana).
These tiny white flowers are popular among Island lei makers.
Lanai’s
flower is the kaunaoa, or yellow and orange air plant. Lei
makers take the thin, light orange strands of this vine and
twist them together to form leis.
Niihau’s
designated "flower" is the white pupu shell, found
on the shoreline of this rocky island. Even uninhabited Kahoolaw
has its own official flower, the hinahina (Heliotropium anomalum),
a silver-gray plant whose flowers and stems are used in lei
making.
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