Native Hawaiian Flowers

Native Hawaiian flowers are known for their unique beauty and cultural significance. Here are some well-known native Hawaiian flowers:

1. Hibiscus (Hibiscus brackenridgei) - Known locally as the pua aloalo, this yellow hibiscus is the official state flower of Hawaii. It is indigenous and can be found in various colors.

2. ʻŌhiʻa Lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) - This flower comes in shades of red, orange, yellow, and white. It grows on the Ōhiʻa tree and is often associated with Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes.

3. Naupaka (Scaevola) - Unique for its half-flower appearance, it grows both in coastal and mountainous regions. The coastal variety is called Naupaka kahakai, and the mountain variety is Naupaka kuahiwi.

4. Kokiʻo keʻokeʻo (Hibiscus arnottianus) - Also known as the Hawaiian white hibiscus, it’s fragrant and native to the Hawaiian islands.

5. Maʻo hau hele (Hibiscus clayi) - This native Hawaiian hibiscus has red flowers and is listed as endangered.

6. ʻIlima (Sida fallax) - A small, yellow flower often used in making traditional Hawaiian leis.

7. Kanikonika (Wikstroemia uva-ursi) - Known as the endangered ʻŌlapa in Hawaiian, it produces small, inconspicuous flowers but is valued for its cultural significance.

8. Kōlea (Myrsine lessertiana) - Producing tiny, fragrant white to pinkish flowers, this species is found in the higher elevations of Hawaii.

9. Pua kala (Argemone glauca) - Also known as the Hawaiian poppy, it has white petals with yellow centers and is native to dry areas.

10. Hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus) - Not strictly native, but widely naturalized, this tree produces large, yellow flowers that turn red as they age.

11. Puakenikeni (Fagraea berteroana) - Known for its fragrant, tubular flowers, it’s often used in lei-making.

These flowers are not only beautiful but are also deeply interwoven with Hawaiian culture and mythology.