Hawaiian hibiscus Facts for Kids

Hawaiian hibiscus are special types of hibiscus flowers that grow naturally in Hawaii. There are seven different kinds of hibiscus that are native to these islands. The bright yellow hibiscus is even the official state flower of Hawaii!

While many people in Hawaii grow the beautiful Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) and its many colorful mixes in their gardens, some also plant the native Hibiscus arnottianus. Scientists believe that the native hibiscus plants in Hawaii came from four separate times that seeds or plants arrived on the islands, leading to the five unique species found only there, plus two other species that are also native to other places.

Meet Hawaii's Native Hibiscus Flowers
Other Hawaiian Flowers Like Hibiscus
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Meet Hawaii's Native Hibiscus Flowers

Hawaii is home to several amazing native hibiscus species. Each one has its own special look and story!

White Hawaiian Hibiscus: Hibiscus arnottianus

The Hibiscus arnottianus is known as kokiʻo keʻokeʻokeʻo in the Hawaiian language, which means "white kokiʻo like the shine of silver." This hibiscus has beautiful white flowers and is found only in Hawaii. It's one of the few hibiscus types that smells sweet!

There are three different kinds of H. arnottianus:

One kind grows in the Waianae Range on Oahu.
Another, very rare kind, is found on Molokai. Only about a dozen of these plants might still exist in the wild!
The third kind grows in the Koʻolau Range, also on Oahu.

Sometimes, this white hibiscus is planted in gardens or mixed with other hibiscus types to create new kinds of flowers.

Yellow Hawaiian Hibiscus: Hibiscus brackenridgei

The Hibiscus brackenridgei is called maʻo hau hele and has bright yellow flowers. This plant can grow quite tall, sometimes up to 33 feet (10 meters)! It's closely related to another widespread hibiscus called H. divaricatus.

There are two main types of H. brackenridgei:

One type grows on Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and the island of Hawaii. It can be a sprawling bush or a straight tree, found in dry forests and low shrublands.
The other type is a tree found in dry areas on Kauai and the Waianae Range on Oahu.

This yellow hibiscus is an endangered species, meaning it's very rare in nature. Even though it's endangered, its bright yellow flower was chosen as the official state flower of Hawaii on June 6, 1988. It's also become a popular plant for people to grow in their yards.

Red Hawaiian Hibiscus: Hibiscus clayi

Hibiscus clayi is a special shrub or small tree that grows only on Kauai. It has bright red flowers and looks a lot like another hibiscus called H. kokio. This species is also listed as endangered.

Pink Hawaiian Hibiscus: Hibiscus furcellatus

The Hibiscus furcellatus has pretty pink flowers. It's an indigenous species, meaning it grows naturally in Hawaii but also in other parts of the world, like the Caribbean, Florida, and Central and South America. In Hawaii, it's often found in low, wet, and marshy areas. It has several Hawaiian names, including ʻakiohala and hau hele wai.

Red-Orange Hawaiian Hibiscus: Hibiscus kokio

Hibiscus kokio is known as kokiʻo or kokiʻo ʻula, meaning "red kokiʻo." It's a shrub or small tree that can grow from 10 to 23 feet (3 to 7 meters) tall. Its flowers are usually red or orangish, but sometimes they can be yellow. This species is found only in Hawaii and is considered rare in nature, even though it's not officially listed as endangered.

There are two kinds of H. kokio:

One type grows on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and possibly Hawaii, in both dry and wet forests.
The other type is found in northwestern Kauai.

Coastal Hawaiian Hibiscus: Hibiscus tiliaceus

The Hibiscus tiliaceus, or hau, is a large shrub or tree that spreads out. It's very common in warm, tropical, and subtropical areas, especially near the coast. This species might have been native to Hawaii, or it could have been brought there by the early Polynesian voyagers long ago.

Another White Hawaiian Hibiscus: Hibiscus waimeae

Hibiscus waimeae is called kokiʻo keʻokeʻo or kokiʻo kea, which means "white kokiʻo like snow." This tree is unique to Hawaii and has gray bark. It can grow from 20 to 33 feet (6 to 10 meters) tall. Its white flowers are beautiful and turn pink as the day goes on.

There are two types of H. waimeae:

One type is rare and endangered, found in the northwestern valleys of Kauai.
The other type grows in the Waimea Canyon and some western to southern valleys on Kauai.

This species is very similar to H. arnottianus in many ways.

Other Hawaiian Flowers Like Hibiscus

Besides the hibiscus species, there are other plants in Hawaii from the same plant family, Malvaceae, that have flowers that look similar to hibiscus, though they are usually smaller.

One group of plants found only in Hawaii is called Hibiscadelphus. There were seven species described, but sadly, three of them are now thought to be extinct (gone forever), and the other four are critically endangered or extinct in the wild.

Another group of trees unique to Hawaii is Kokia, with four species. All but one of these are either extinct or almost extinct in the wild.

There are also three endangered species of Abutilon plants found only in Hawaii: A. eremitopetalum, A. menziesii, and A. sandwicense.

Cotton plants (Gossypium spp.) have bright yellow flowers that definitely look like hibiscus. One type, G. tomentosum, is native to Hawaii. It's not very common but can be found in dry areas on all the main islands except Hawaii Island.

The widespread milo tree (Thespesia populnea) is another native tree with yellow and maroon flowers.

Did you know that South Korea's national flower is the Hibiscus syriacus? You can find this type of hibiscus growing in Hawaii too!