Native Yellow Hibiscus
Pua Aloalo or Ma`o-hau- hele
(Hibiscus brackenridgei A. Gray)
Adopted on June 6, 1988.
The striking and beautiful yellow
hibiscus ,hibiscus brackenridgei,
known as the pua aloalo in the Hawaiian
language, is the state flower. It was
adopted on June 6, 1988.
Hawaii's state flower originated in
Asia and the Pacific islands.
Interestingly, it is also the national
flower of Malaysia. This species is a
true tropical hibiscus belonging to the
Malvaceae, or mallow family. It is
believed that there were originally only
five species of hibiscus native to
Hawaii. Later other varieties were
imported and growers began to develop
hybrids to produce the kaleidoscope of
colors and sizes found today.
In 1923 Hawaii was still a territory,
and the ilima was adopted as the state's
flower following its promotion by an
organization called "The Outdoor
Circle." In 1950, when statehood was
being anticipated by the Hawaiians, a
resolution was introduced stating:
"Hawaii's official flower shall be the
ilima, the flower of old royalty." Many
Hawaiians felt that the ilima should be
the state's flower because the famed
ilima leis were always presented to
dignitaries who came to Hawaii. Two
other exotic flowers, the lehua and the
vanda, were also considered. However,
when a vote was taken the ilima was
chosen as the winner.
Hawaii officially became the fiftieth
state of America in 1959. The
realization that the ilima had never
been changed from being Hawaii's
territorial flower to her state flower
didn't surface until nearly thirty years
later! To solve this problem, the
legislature decided to legally adopt the
flower that had for so long been
considered official.
Therefore on June 6, 1988, Hawaii
changed its state flower from the native
red hibiscus (Hibiscus kokio) to the
ma'ohauhele, the only species of yellow
hibiscus that can be called our state
flower.
Description: Ma'ohauhele is a
shrub that grows up to 10 feet, with
maplelike leaves and bright yellow
flowers. It varies in appearance among
islands but generally falls into two
subspecies: H. brackenridgei subspecies
brackenridge of Maui, Molokai, Lanai and
the Big Island, and H. brackenridgei
subspecies mokuleianus of Oahu and
Kauai.
The most visible difference between
the two subspecies is in the leaves and
stems. The leaves of subspecies
mokuleianus have more serrated margins
and pink veins with tiny spines on the
branches. Subspecies brackenridgei, on
the other hand, has leaves with more
rounded margins and yellow veins, and it
lacks the tiny spines on its branches.
Does well in full sun to partial
shade and needs very little water,
although daily watering is OK. It is a
fast grower and will flower about twice
a year. Each flowering period lasts up
to two months, with blooms occurring
daily on a flowering stalk that rises
above the plant.
Distribution: This is an
endangered species found in the dry to
mesic forests of all main islands except
Niihau (it was once reportedly collected
from Kahoolawe).
Official flowers and colors for
each island is as follows: 2000
- Hawai`i, Red Lehua (Ohia)
- Maui, Lokelani - Pink Cottage
Rose (Rosa damascena)
- Moloka`i, White Kukui Blossom (Aleurites
moluccana)
- Kaho`olawe, Hinahina -Beach
Heliotrope (Heliotropium anomalum,
var. argenteum)
- Lana`i, Kaunaoa -Yellow and
Orange Air Plant (Cuscuta
sandwichiana)
- O`ahu, Ilima (Sida fallax)
- Kaua`i, Mokihana - Green Berry (Pelea
anisata)
- Ni`ihau, White Pupu Shell
Taxonomic Hierarchy
|
Kingdom |
Plantae -- Plants |
Subkingdom |
Tracheobionta --
Vascular plants |
Superdivision |
Spermatophyta -- Seed
plants |
Division |
Magnoliophyta --
Flowering plants |
Class |
Magnoliopsida --
Dicotyledons |
Subclass |
Dilleniidae – |
Order |
Malvales – |
Family |
Malvaceae – Mallow
family |
Genus |
Hibiscus L. –
rosemallow |
Species Hibiscus
brackenridgei Gray –
Brackenridge's rosemallow
|
|