Hawaii’s Floral Beauty is Second to None.

About half of the Hawaiian flora is native, having been brought to the Islands naturally by winds, tides, and birds.  Almost 90 percent of the native plants are endemic and found nowhere else on Earth.  The rest of the thousands of plants found here were introduced by immigrants settling over the centuries from all parts of the world.

Today, visitors to the Islands are intoxicated by amazing floral scents and beautiful plant life everywhere they look. Some plants even grow out of volcanic rocks.

There are seven varieties of hibiscus in Hawaii and the yellow specie has been selected as the state’s official flower.

The dazzling colors, often unusual shapes and marvelous aromas make it difficult to choose favorites, but the state of Hawaii and each Island have adopted their own flower.  The state’s is the yellow hibiscus.

Oahu’s flower is the yellow ilima, which is popular in lei making.  Maui chose the pink lokelani or pink cottage rose, which is the only non-native plant to be recognized as the official flower of any of the Islands.  Kauai’s flower isn’t a flower, but a green berry called mokihana, which only grows on the slopes of Mount Waialelae.  The Big Island favors the red lehua blossom from the native ohia tree.

The flower of Molokai is the white kukui blossom, which is popular among the island’s lei makers.  The kaunaoa or yellow and orange air plant is the flower of Lanai.  Niihau’s designated “flower” is the white pupu shell, which is only found on the island’s rocky shores and is used to make highly regarded necklaces and other jewelry.

Flower leis are given as the traditional welcome to guests and simply to express “Aloha.” The beautiful flowers used are found throughout the Islands and in countless colors and shapes.

Of the thousands of flowers and plants in the Islands, any number are often used in producing magnificent floral displays at public and private gatherings, at retail stores and resorts, and as colorful decorations worn in the hair.  Some of the beautiful flowers are also used  for medicinal and even spiritual purposes.

When visiting any of the islands, luxuriate in the magnificent flora. The memories of the lush surroundings and wonderful floral scents will stay with you for a lifetime.  This is a big part of what makes our 50^th state so special and unique in all of the world.