| Native Yellow Hibiscus | Hibiscus brackenridgei A. Gray | Adopted:1988 |
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| Hawaii Official Flower: Native Yellow Hibiscus |
Adoption of the Hawaii State Flower
In 1912, the Outdoor Circle was established by a group of women to beautify Honolulu and its surroundingareas by planting beautiful trees and flowers. The mission of the Outdoor Circle expanded to "preserve, protect andenhance Hawaii's scenic environment for future generations" and in the 1920s the Outdoor Circle began advocatingunderground wiring, landscaping military bases, and working toward the elimination of billboards on the island ofO'ahu. The Outdoor Circle also promoted adoption of pua aloalo (hibiscus) as an official floral emblem to representHawaii.
On May 2, 1923, the territorial legislature, with the "encouragement" of the Outdoor Circle, approved JointResolution No. 1 designating the pua aloalo (hibiscus) the flower emblem of Hawaii.
WHEREAS, floral emblems came into use in ancient times and mention is made of them in the early history of China and in biblical literature, and countries and states have adopted certain flowers, each emblematic of the flora of such country or state, and such action is promotive of loyalty and feelings of pride on the part of the inhabitants of such countries and states; and
WHEREAS, as at the present time several of the islands have adopted a local flower as its emblem,
HAWAII PUA LEHUA OAHU PUA ILIMA MAUI LOKELANI KAUAI MOKIHANA MOLOKAI PUA KUKUI LANAI KAUNAOA KAHOOLAWE HINAHINA it is fitting that some flower be adopted to represent the Territory of Hawaii as a whole, and in the flora of the country, the Pua Aloalo (Hibiscus) a beautiful, indigenous blossom which grows luxuriantly on all the islands, appears to be most generally representative, no other flower having so great a variety in color and form, or such continuous blooming; Therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii that the flower known as the Pua Aloalo (Hibiscus) shall be and is hereby adopted as the flower emblematic of the Territory and shall be known as the Flower Emblem of Hawaii.
Approved this 2nd day of May, A. D. 1923.
W. R. FARRINGTON,
Governor of the Territory of Hawaii
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Hawaii Official Flower: Native Yellow Hibiscus |
The legislation referred to the flower as an "indigenous blossom", offering "a variety in color and form" and did not specify one particular color. Red was often chosen and portrayed as the color of the flower emblem, but this color was notofficially specified by Joint Resolution No. 1.
In 1988, almost thirty years after Hawaii entered the Union, the issue of an official state flower wasaddressed. Though long considered the state flower, the hibiscus wasn't really "official" in the minds of some. By act 177, approved onJune 6, 1988, the Hawaii Legislature adopted the native yellow hibiscus (Hibiscus brackenridgei A. Gray), alsoknown as the pua aloalo or ma`o-hau-helewas, as the "official flower of the State."
In 2000, section 5-16 of the Hawai'i Revised Statutes was amended to name an officialflower or lei material for each island. House Bill No. 750, introduced in January 1999 specifiedisland flowers as listed in section 5-16 below. It also added section 5-16.5 to name anofficial color for each of the islands. Act 165 of the 2000 Hawaii Legislature, prompted by House Bill No. 750 wassigned by Governor Benjamin J. Cayetano on June 9, 2000.
The Hawai`i Revised Statutes
The following information is excerpted from the Hawai`i Revised Statutes, Volume 1,Chapter 5, Section 5-16. The 1988 version and the 2004 version of section 5-16 are listed.
VOLUME 1.
CHAPTER 5. EMBLEMS AND SYMBOLS.
SECTION 5-16.
§5-16 State flower. The native yellow hibiscus (Hibiscus brackenridgei A. Gray), also known as the Pua Aloalo or Ma`o-hau-hele, is established and designated as the official flower of the State. [L 1988, c 177, ?1]
VOLUME 1.
CHAPTER 5. EMBLEMS AND SYMBOLS.
SECTION 5-16.
§5-16 State flower and individual island flowers. The native yellow hibiscus (Hibiscus brackenridgei A. Gray), also known as the Pua Aloalo or Ma`o-hau-hele, is established and designated as the official flower of the State.
The lokelani, also known as the damask rose (rosa damascena), is established and designated as the official flower of the island of Maui.
The pua `ilima from the native dodder shrubs (sida fallax) is established and designated as the official flower of the island of O`ahu.
The mokihana from the native tree (pelea anisata) is established and designated as the official lei material of the island of Kaua`i.
The pua kukui, also known as the candlenut tree (aleurites moluccana), is established and designated as the official lei material of the island of Moloka`i.
The kauna`oa, also known as the native dodder (cuscuta sandwichiana), is established and designated as the official lei material of the island of Lāna`i.
The pūpū, also known as the momi, laiki, and kahelelani, is established and designated as the official lei material of the island of Ni`ihau.
The hinahina or native heliotrope (heliotropium anomalum, var. argenteum) is established and designated as the official lei material of the island of Kaho`olawe. [L 1988, c 177, §1; am L 2000, c 165, §3]
HRS 0005-0016 ANNOTATIONS
Additional Information
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| Hawaii Official Flower: Native Yellow Hibiscus |
Flowers of Hawaii:from aloha-hawaii.com
Pua Aloalo: Hawaii's Honored Hibiscus:Copyright July, 1999 by Naomi Mathews. NOTE: Mrs. Mathews' reference to adoption of the ilima as Hawaii's state floweris not correct; the pua aloalo (hibiscus) was adopted by the 1923 Joint Resolution.
Plant Profile for Hibiscus brackenridgei Gray ( Brackenridge's rosemallow):USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Rare and Endangered Plant:Hibiscus brackenridgei from the United States Botanic Garden.
State Flower List:List of all of the state flowers.
State Birds & Flowers 1000-pc Puzzle:Created at the request of The National Wildlife Federation this design is a beautiful and informative puzzle featuring every state bird perched on the appropriate state flower.
State Birds and Flowers Coloring Book
by Annika Bernhard - 51 accurately detailed, copyright-free renderings include national bird (eagle) and flower (rose) plus 50 state birds and flowers.
U. S. State Flowers in Cross Stitchby Gerda Bengtsson - Botanically correct cross stitch designs of state flowers of the 50 States.
Quilting Flowers of the Statesby Sue Harvey - A lovely 12-inch flower block for each of the 50 states. Techniques used are piecing, appliqu?, paper-piecing and three-dimensional techniques.
Plants, Seeds & Flowers:Bulbs, seeds, plants, fertilizer, plant containers and more.
Gardening Tools:Pruners, rakes, shovels, hoes, trowels, cultivators and tillers, greenhouses, yard carts and more.
State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols:A Historical Guide, Third Edition - Benjamin F. Shearer and Barbara S. Shearer, Greenwood Press, 2002
Source: Hawaii State Legislature, (http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/), June 17, 2005
Source: The Hawaii State Public Library System, (http://www.librarieshawaii.org/), June 16, 2005
Source: State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols: A Historical Guide, Third Edition - Benjamin F. Shearer and Barbara S. Shearer, Greenwood Press, 2002
