This post has been generously provided by Kerri Ioannou, who has lived in Honolulu for years since she moved back to be with her father’s family. An amateur gardener, she loves showing off her home’s profusion of Hawaiian flowers to her Australian relatives.
From yellow hibiscus to purple-tinged plumeria, there are dozens of beautiful flowers for travelers to admire in the Hawaiian Islands. As in most island groups in the Pacific, many of these flowers have long-held cultural significance.
Yellow Hibiscus
Each state in the USA has an official flower. Hawaii’s is the yellow hibiscus, and, as you’ll see at every Hawaii holiday destination you visit, this island paradise is proud of its official blossom. Also called the “hibiscus brackenrigel” or “ma’o hau hele,” the yellow hibiscus is most often grown now as a decoration or a symbol of pride. It’s also worth noting each Hawaiian island in the chain has an official island flower as well — Oahu’s is the pua ‘ilima, another cheerful yellow flower with broad petals. These official flowers are used to make welcoming and celebratory leis — garlands of flowers — to give to guests and other VIPs.
The yellow hibiscus has been the state flower since 1988, but hibiscus flowers of many colors have been used to symbolize Hawaii since the 1920s.
Plumeria
Also called frangipani, plumeria are another frequently seen ornamental flower on the islands. They are often included in leis and other decorations because they have a sweet scent in addition to their delicate colors.
In fact, it’s because of their fragrance that plumeria gained original significance in Hawaii. The flowers are not native to Polynesia, and are said to have been brought to the islands from South America more than 200 years ago. When they were first introduced, they were planted near cemeteries and came to hold a significance of death, renewal and later, perfection.
Lehua
One of the most common native trees in the islands, ‘ohi’a lehua, or metrosideros polymorpha, boasts tassel-shaped blossoms in vibrant reds and oranges. Another common flower or bud for leis, the lehua blossom holds high cultural significance because it is often associated with Pele, the goddess of volcanoes.
As one legend has it, Pele became infatuated with a young and handsome human man. Unfortunately, the man loved a different woman, named Lehua. As is often the case in divinity-human love legends, the goddess was unhappy to be spurned and turned the man into a tree. Lehua was so distraught after learning that her lover was now inanimate that the other Hawaiian gods took pity on her and changed her into a blossom so the lovers could be reunited.
Jasmine
Unlike Lehua, Hawaiian jasmine or pikake is not a native plant, but it’s such a pretty and sweet-smelling flower that you’ll often find jasmine woven into leis or planted near hotels for its nighttime fragrance. Jasmine came to the islands via India and Southeast Asia, but perhaps became associated with Hawaii because it was the favourite flower of Crown Princess Ka’iulani.
Bougainvillea
This popular decorative plant, known in Hawaiian language as “pukanawila,” is loved by decorators and homeowners because of its vibrant coloring and easy growth. Many of the non-native flowers on the islands, like the bougainvillea, show the state’s diverse history of immigration.
Bougainvillea flowers were first discovered in Brazil, and came to Hawaii with the Catholic missionary Father Alexis John Augustine Bachelot. Bachelot was ordered off the islands by royal decree several times, but his flowers stayed on.
Where to Enjoy Hawaiian Flowers
You won’t have any trouble finding glorious gardens of tropical flowers around the resorts and attractions of Hawaii. If you’re interested in learning more about the flowers themselves, you may be interested in visiting the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, on the Big Island, or the Honolulu Botanical Gardens. If the islands of Hawaii or Oahu aren’t on your list, you’ll find other botanical gardens on Maui and Kauai, too.
While in Hawaii, many travelers find it interesting to attend a lei-making demonstration to see how these beautiful blossoms are made into garlands and learn about the cultural significance of giving leis. Check the cultural programme at your resort or at the Royal Hawaiian Center shopping mall in Honolulu for dates and times.
66 Comments
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account
it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate?
Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I definitely enjoyed reading it, you could be a
great author. I will ensure that I bookmark your blog and will often come
back very soon. I want to encourage you to continue your great writing,
have a nice holiday weekend!
Please let me know if you’re looking for a author for your site.
You have some really good articles and I think I would be a good
asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really like to
write some content for your blog in exchange for
a link back to mine. Please send me an email if interested.
Thanks!
Hi there terrific website! Does running a blog similar to
this take a lot of work? I’ve very little expertise in computer programming however I was hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyway, if you have any recommendations or tips for
new blog owners please share. I know this is off subject however I simply wanted to ask.
Cheers!
hello there and thank you for your info – I have definitely
picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise several
technical issues using this website, as I experienced to
reload the site a lot of times previous to I could get it to load correctly.
I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and could damage your
high quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords.
Well I’m adding this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for
a lot more of your respective fascinating content. Ensure that you update this again soon.
excellent post, very informative. I ponder why the other specialists of this sector do
not realize this. You must proceed your writing. I’m confident, you’ve a great readers’ base already!
Hi to all, it’s in fact a fastidious for me to visit this web
site, it consists of valuable Information.
Why is it I always really feel like you do?
This web site truly has all the info I wanted about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
It’s great that you are getting ideas from this article as
well as from our dialogue made here.
I was just telling my friend about that.
After I initially left a comment I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and
now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the exact same
comment. Perhaps there is a means you can remove me from that service?
Many thanks!
This site was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something that helped me.
Thank you!
I was suggested this web site by way of my cousin. I’m no longer certain whether or not this put up is written via him as no one else understand such distinct about my problem.
You’re wonderful! Thanks!
You are so cool! I don’t suppose I’ve truly read through
a single thing like that before. So good to find somebody
with some genuine thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you
for starting this up. This web site is something that is required on the web,
someone with a bit of originality!
Thanks for sharing such a fastidious thought, piece of writing is
nice, thats why i have read it completely
Amazing! Its actually amazing paragraph, I have got much clear idea concerning from this post.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say
that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts.
In any case I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!
Hello! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog.
Is it hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal
but I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not
sure where to start. Do you have any ideas or suggestions?
With thanks
After I initially commented I seem to have clicked on the -Notify me
when new comments are added- checkbox and from
now on every time a comment is added I receive 4 emails with the exact same
comment. Perhaps there is a means you are able to remove me from that service?
Thanks a lot!
This is the right blog for everyone who wishes to find out about this topic.
You understand a whole lot its almost tough to argue
with you (not that I actually will need to…HaHa). You certainly put a new spin on a subject
that’s been written about for many years. Wonderful stuff, just excellent!
Appreciate the recommendation. Let me try it out.
Hi, yeah this piece of writing is in fact pleasant and I have
learned lot of things from it on the topic of blogging.
thanks.
Great work! That is the kind of info that are meant to be shared across the
net. Shame on the search engines for now not positioning this publish upper!
Come on over and consult with my site . Thank you =)
Good way of telling, and good paragraph to get information on the topic of my presentation subject, which i am going to present in institution of higher education.
I’m really impressed together with your writing talents and
also with the format in your blog. Is that this a paid subject matter or did you customize it your self?
Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare
to see a nice weblog like this one nowadays..
Excellent pieces. Keep writing such kind of information on your page.
Im really impressed by it.
Hey there, You’ve performed a fantastic job. I’ll certainly digg it and in my opinion suggest to my friends.
I’m sure they’ll be benefited from this site.
At this moment I am ready to do my breakfast, once having my breakfast coming again to
read more news.
Hello would you mind stating which blog platform you’re working with?
I’m looking to start my own blog soon but
I’m having a hard time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and
Drupal. The reason I ask is because your layout
seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique.
P.S Apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!
Great goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff
previous to and you are just extremely magnificent.
I actually like what you have acquired here, certainly like
what you’re saying and the way in which you say it.
You make it entertaining and you still take care of to
keep it sensible. I can not wait to read far more from you.
This is actually a tremendous website.
I like the valuable info you provide in your articles. I’ll bookmark
your weblog and check again here frequently. I am quite
certain I’ll learn a lot of new stuff right here! Best of
luck for the next!
Excellent post but I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more
on this topic? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little
bit further. Bless you!
My brother suggested I might like this website. He was totally right.
This post truly made my day. You cann’t imagine simply how
much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
First off I want to say great blog! I had a quick question that I’d
like to ask if you don’t mind. I was curious to know how you center yourself and clear
your head prior to writing. I’ve had a difficult time clearing my thoughts
in getting my thoughts out. I truly do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the
first 10 to 15 minutes are generally wasted just trying to figure out how
to begin. Any suggestions or hints? Kudos!
Hi there are using WordPress for your site
platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to
get started and set up my own. Do you need any html coding knowledge to make your own blog?
Any help would be really appreciated!
Hello there! This is my first visit to your blog! We
are a group of volunteers and starting a new project in a
community in the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial
information to work on. You have done a extraordinary job!
Howdy I am so glad I found your blog page, I really found you by error, while I was browsing on Yahoo for
something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say many thanks for a
fantastic post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have
time to look over it all at the moment but I have saved it and also
added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the superb work.
I am regular reader, how are you everybody? This piece of writing posted at this
web page is genuinely fastidious.
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest
but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later on. Many thanks
Keep on writing, great job!
Excellent blog here! Also your website quite a bit up very fast!
What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link
in your host? I desire my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
You’re so interesting! I do not suppose I’ve read through something
like this before. So nice to find somebody with a few unique thoughts on this subject.
Really.. thank you for starting this up.
This web site is something that is needed on the web, someone with a bit of originality!
I’m not sure where you are getting your information, but
good topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
Thanks for fantastic info I was looking for this information for my mission.
Wow that was strange. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up.
Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Regardless,
just wanted to say superb blog!
Fantastic goods from you, man. I’ve remember your stuff
prior to and you’re simply too fantastic.
I actually like what you’ve received right here, really like what you
are stating and the best way in which you are saying it.
You are making it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it sensible.
I cant wait to read much more from you. This is really a terrific website.
This post offers clear idea for the new people of blogging, that truly
how to do running a blog.
Thanks to my father who shared with me on the topic of this website, this webpage is actually awesome.
Wow, awesome blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is magnificent, let alone the content!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about natural supplement.
Regards
Awesome post.
Can you tell us more about this? I’d care to find out some
additional information.
Hola! I’ve been following your site for some time now and finally got the
courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Huffman Texas!
Just wanted to say keep up the great work!
Wonderful views on that!
Your style is very unique in comparison to other people I have read stuff from. Thank you for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this web site.
I have found that the easiest solution is to delay planting until the second week of June in our area.
I like what you guys are up also. Such smart work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my site :).
Hello I am so glad I found your web site, I really found you by error, while I
was searching on Google for something else, Anyways I
am here now and would just like to say cheers for a marvelous post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design),
I don’t have time to go through it all at the minute but I
have saved it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time
I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the fantastic
work.
Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is really informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I?ll appreciate if you continue this in future. Numerous people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Hello! I loved your blog post. Keep making stuff like this one. I’ll be back to see more articles like this one. It’s very original. Thanks again!
I would like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this website. I am hoping to view the same high-grade content from you in the future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own, personal website now 😉
Wonderful beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your site,
how can i subscribe for a blog web site? The account aided me a acceptable deal.
I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear concept
Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular article! It’s the little changes
that will make the greatest changes. Thanks for sharing!
This is the perfect blog for anybody who hopes
to understand this topic. You know a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I actually would want
to…HaHa). You certainly put a brand new spin on a
topic that has been written about for decades.
Wonderful stuff, just wonderful!
Wow, marvelous blog structure! How long have you been running a blog for?
you made running a blog glance easy. The entire glance of your web site is magnificent, let alone the content!
Hey would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re using?
I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a
lot quicker then most. Can you recommend a good web hosting provider at a honest price?
Many thanks, I appreciate it!
Comments are closed.