Hawaii is known for its natural beauty. It s no wonder that so many people choose to take their vacations in this paradise. This great atmosphere is owed, at least in part, to the many beautiful species of tropical flowers native to Hawaii. These exotic blooms are an instantly recognizable Hawaiian symbol, and have made their way into décor, weddings, and even tattoos.
On Hawaii, a lei is a wreath of flowers given as a gift at many celebrations and other occasions. You may even receive one upon your arrival to Hawaii, or at a luau, if you attend one. The flower most often seen in a lei is the plumeria, known for its delicate pink or white star shaped blossom. Another flower that you may notice in leis is a lehua blossom, recognizable for its bright flowers and soft, needle like petals. The lehua is the official bloom of the Big Island.
The Hawaii state flower is the yellow hibiscus, known to native Hawaiians as the pua aloalo. With wide, soft pedals, the hibiscus is easily identified by its scent. Considered Hawaii’s official flower since the 1920s, it is also found in white, pink, red, and purple. This is the flower that most people believe best represents the Aloha spirit and all things Hawaii.
Each island also has its own official flower; look for these blooms on your next vacation. On Oahu, the official bloom is the yellow ilima, which resembles a small hibiscus. It is used medicinally and for leis. This flower can be found growing as groundcover all over the island.
On the Big Island, it’s the ohia lehua, which is considered sacred to the volcano goddess Pele. This evergreen shrub often is the first plant to start growing after an area has been covered in lava. It is spiky yet soft, and looks quite exotic even in Hawaii.
Kauai’s official bloom is actually a shrub, not a flower, the anise scented mohikana. A member of the citrus family, the fruit is used for the making of wreaths and as a very strong perfume.
The official flower of Maui is the pink lokelani, which is the only non native flower to be designated a Hawaiian state flower. Brought to the islands by the Spanish in the 1880s, it is also known as the Maui Rose, and has a beautiful velvety color and fragrant scent.
Molokai’s official flower is the white kukui blossom. Originally brought to the islands by the Polynesians, it was once used for medicine, dye, food, and decoration. The nuts were eaten and used for oils; their black dye was once used for tattoos. The wood could be used for making canoes. Today this plant is still used in lei making.
Kaunaoa, a yellow and orange air plant, is Lanai’s official plant. This rare plant is not often seen, even on Lanai. On Nihau Island, it’s the white pupu shell, not a plant at all. This distinctive shell is used to make prized leis. On Koho’olawe, which is uninhabited, the hinahina is the official plant. The hinahina has small white or pale purple blooms with a yellow eye. This plant doesn’t require a lot of water to survive, and there isn’t a lot of fresh water on Koho’olawe.
Other flowers commonly associated with the Hawaiian islands are orchids, anthuriums, heliconias, and ginger. Though there are three species of orchid that are native to Hawaii, the rest of these have all been imported. The heliconia, or bird of paradise, has a unique wax like appearance. This is one of the most exotic looking plants on all of Hawaii. Anturiums are quite large, with leaves of many different colors. Botanical gardens throughout the islands provide ample opportunity to see these species and many more.
Author Resource:
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