The native
hibiscus found in Hawaii are: •
Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray –
kokio keokeo ("
kokio that is white like the shine of silver") is an endemic species of hibiscus with white flowers. Three subspecies are recognized:
H. arnottianus ssp.
arnottianus found in the
Waianae Range of western
Oahu;
H. a. ssp.
immaculatus which is very rare (listed as endangered) on
Molokai; and
H. a. ssp.
punaluuensis from the
Koolau Range on Oahu. Perhaps only a dozen plants of
H. a. ssp.
immaculatus exist in nature in
mesic and
wet forests. This species is closely related to
H. waimeae, and the two are among the very few members of the genus with fragrant flowers. It is sometimes planted as an ornamental or crossed with
H. rosa-sinensis. In the
Hawaiian language, the white hibiscus is known as the
pua aloalo. •
Hibiscus brackenridgei A.Gray –
mao hau hele ("
hau most similar to
mao") is a tall shrub (up to ) with bright yellow flowers, closely related to the widespread
H. divaricatus. Two subspecies are recognized:
H. b. ssp.
brackenridgei, a sprawling shrub to an erect tree found in
dry forests and
low shrublands at elevations of above sea level on
Molokai,
Lanai, Maui, and the
island of Hawaii; and
H. b. ssp.
mokuleianus, a tree from dry habitats on Kauai and the Waianae Range on Oahu. This species is listed as an
endangered species by the
USFWS. The yellow flower of this species was made the
official state flower of Hawaii on 6 June 1988, and although endangered in its natural habitats, has become a moderately popular ornamental in Hawaiian yards. •
Hibiscus clayi O.Deg. &
I.Deg. is an endemic shrub or small tree with bright red flowers, generally similar to
H. kokio, and found in nature on
Kauai in
dry forests. It is listed as
endangered by USFWS. •
Hibiscus furcellatus Desr. is a pink-flowered hibiscus considered an indigenous species, typically found in low and
marshy areas of the
Caribbean,
Florida,
Central and
South America, and Hawaii, where it is known as
akiohala,
akiahala,
hau hele, and
hau hele wai ("entirely
puce hau"). •
Hibiscus kokio Hillebr.,
kokio or
kokio ula ("red
kokio") is a shrub or small tree () with red to orangish (or rarely yellow) flowers. This endemic species is not officially listed, but considered rare in nature. Two subspecies are recognized:
H. kokio ssp.
kokio found in dry to
wet forests on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and possibly Hawaii at elevations of ; and
H. k. ssp.
saintjohnianus from northwestern Kauai at elevations of . •
Hibiscus tiliaceus L.,
hau, is a spreading shrub or tree common to the tropics and subtropics, especially in coastal areas. This species is possibly indigenous to Hawaii, but may have been introduced by the early
Polynesians. •
Hibiscus waimeae A.Heller,
kokio keokeo or
kokio kea ("
kokio that is white as snow"), is a Hawaiian endemic, gray-barked tree, tall, with white flowers that fade to pink in the afternoon. Two subspecies are recognized:
H. waimeae ssp.
hannerae (rare and listed as endangered) found in northwestern valleys of Kauai, and
H. w. ssp.
waimeae occurring in the
Waimea Canyon and some western to southern valleys on Kauai. This species closely resembles
H. arnottianus in a number of characteristics. File:Hawaiian White Hibiscus.jpg|
Hibiscus arnottianus File:Maohauhele.jpg|
Hibiscus brackenridgei File:Hibiscusclayi.jpg|
Hibiscus clayi File:Hibiscus furcellatus (5112678927).jpg|
Hibiscus furcellatus File:Hibiscus kokio Kokee2.jpg|
Hibiscus kokio File:Htiliaceus.jpg|
Hibiscus tiliaceus File:Starr 060826-8647 Hibiscus waimeae.jpg|
Hibiscus waimeae File:Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray.jpg|
Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray == Other Malvaceae ==