A Local’s Guide to Hawaiian Tropical Flowers (2024)

One of the most interesting things about this Hawaiian plant is the Hawaiian legend associated with it. Once upon a time, there was a man named ‘Ohi‘a, who attracted the attention of the fire goddess Pele. But ‘Ohi‘a only had eyes for a woman named Lehua, and Lehua only had eyes for ‘Ohi‘a. In a fit of jealousy, Pele turned ‘Ohi‘a into a nasty, gnarled plant that became known as the ‘ohi‘a tree. The gods then took pity on Lehua and turned her into a beautiful red flower on the ‘ohi‘a tree, so that the two of them could never be separated again.

In ancient times, the ‘ohi‘a lehua tree was one of the most resilient Hawaiian plants. It would be the first to grow in the dry, harsh landscapes of lava rock right after a fresh lava flow. Today, though, the ‘ohi‘a lehua tree is struggling. Currently, two types of bacteria, Ceratocystis huliohia and Ceratocystis lukuohia, plague the plant, and there is no cure. To avoid spreading these bacteria, make sure to leave ohia plants unharmed! Openings in the ‘ohi‘a plants’ outer bark can become entry points for these destructive bacteria.

"I'iwi and O'hi'a Lehua" Hawaiian flower painting by Karen Whitworth

The hibiscus is one of the iconic Hawaiian plants, as the yellow hibiscus is the state flower of Hawaii. There are many different variates of hibiscuses in many different colors, including red, white, pink, and orange. To the ancient Hawaiians, these flowers were treasured more than just for their beauty.

"Past Present Future" yellow hibiscus - Hawaiian flower painting by Karen Whitworth

The ancient Hawaiian people used hibiscuses for a variety of medicinal purposes, including to treat stomach irritation, colds, and blood pressure. The flowers were also used for dye, and the bark was used for hula skirts and wigs.

"Radiance" Tropical hibiscus painting on canvas by Karen Whitworth

While most of the Hawaiian plants on this list are native to Hawaii, plumerias are not. There are dozens of varieties of plumerias found in Hawaii, ranging from white to yellow to orange, pink, even rainbow plumeria. The most popular type is a white flower with a spot of yellow on the inside. Many of these plumeria varieties can be found in the plumeria grove at Koko Crater Botanical Garden.

"Paradise Delight" rainbow plumeria painting by Karen Whitworth

The beautiful, aromatic flowers originally became a symbol of Hawaii, because they were used in most leis given to tourists. Today though, plumeria leis are hard to come by, as they have been replaced by leis made of purple and white orchids.

"Heavenly Scent" yellow plumeria painting on canvas by Karen Whitworth

Just like the plumeria, the bird of paradise plant is not native to Hawaii. This rainbow-colored, bird-shaped flower is often the first thing people think of when referring to tropical Hawaiian plants. This eye-catching plant actually grows wild on many of the Hawaiian Islands!

"If Looks Could Kill" Orange Bird of Paradise flower painting by Karen Whitworth

The Haleakala lobelia may be one of the rarest Hawaiian plants. This bluebell variation can only be found in the most remote gulches of Maui. But it’s quite the sight to see, especially if the endangered Amakihi bird happens to be gathering some nectar from the Haleakala lobelia.

"Amakihi and Haleakala Lobelia" Hawaiian flowers painting by Karen Whitworth

Kukui Nut Photo by Daniel Ramirez

The kukui nut tree, also known as the candlenut tree, is one of the most interesting Hawaiian plants. It is actually the state tree of Hawaii. Today, kukui nuts are most commonly known for their use in leis. There are both brown and white versions of kukui nuts, but white kukui nuts are very hard to come by.

Photo by Scot Nelson

The kukui nut tree got its alternate name as the candlenut tree from the fact that the ancient Hawaiians used to light these nuts as candles. Each one has enough oil to last two to three minutes, so, when combined with hundreds of others, the kukui nuts could provide light for hours!

Photo by Kim and Forest Starr

But that wasn’t the only purpose the ancient Hawaiians had for this precious Hawaiian plant. The nuts and bark were also used to dye traditional Hawaiian kapa cloths for hula and traditional ceremonies.

"Amakihi and Koli'i" Hawaiian flower painting by Karen Whitworth

The island of Kauai has a signature lei made of bright green, anise-smelling marbles from the mokihana plant. To receive one of these mokihana leis is truly a great honor in local culture.

Do know that the sap inside the mokihana berries can cause severe skin rashes, so be sure to place it over clothing.

The Haleakala Silversword is endemic to the slopes of Maui’s highest peak. In other words, the Haleakala Silversword is extremely rare and can only be found on Haleakala. When the golden glow of a Haleakala sunrise shines on these Haleakala Silverswords, they are stunningly beautiful. These plants can live for up to fifty years but flower just once, right before they spread a bunch of seeds and die.

Photo by Kim and Forest Starr

One of the reasons the Haleakala Silversword is so rare is because many tourists will get too curious and end up pulling out parts of the plants in the process. If you do see these endangered plants, remember to look but don’t touch!