The Hawaii State Flower is known as the Hawaiian hibiscus. A member of the Magnoliophyta plant family, or plants that grow flowers, Hawaiian hibiscus bushes bloom almost daily; however, the blossoms are short-lived, remaining on the bush only for a day. Bright yellow in color with maroon toward its center, the Hawaiian hibiscus also goes by the name "pua aloalo" or "ma'o hau hele" in the native language. The flowers grow to reach 3 feet to 15 feet tall and can be found on all the main islands except Ni'ihau and Kaho'olawe. They bloom beginning in the spring through early summer, with additional flowers sprouting occasionally during the remainder of the year.
Each of the eight major Hawaiian Islands--Hawaii, Kahoolawe, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau--has its own official flower. All of the state's flowers are divided into two categories: native and introduced. Native are those common on the island, while introduced flowers were transported via natural means such as wind, tides and birds. Some popular Hawaiian flowers in addition to the state hibiscus include the Popo Hau, which came from China; the Kokutan, which also originated from areas of Asia; the Purple-Leaved Hibiscus, native to Africa; and the Pentas, native to tropical Africa and Arabia.
While the hibiscus flower is largely associated with the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean and is also a member of the plant family Malvaceae (also known as the mallow family, which includes almost 2,300 species), the flowers regularly observed are generally not hibiscus flowers native to Hawaii. Hawaiian hibiscus flowers are rotund, noticeably large and bright yellow with a prominent stem surrounding their long, slender frame. Of the two subspecies in the Hawaiian hibiscus group, only the yellow Hawaiian hibiscus flower that falls under this species is the official state flower of Hawaii.
The Hawaiian hibiscus has become endangered in its natural habitat. The Hawaiian state flower was changed from the native red hibiscus (Hibiscus kokio) to the Hawaiian hibiscus (ma'o hau hele), the only species of yellow hibiscus, in 1988. Hawaiian hibiscus flowers open in the afternoon between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and close again between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Young Hawaiian hibiscus plants are identifiable by their smooth tan trunks, while the trunks of older plants have a more wrinkled, weathered appearance.
