To mark our 50th anniversary celebration of Hawai'i statehood in 2009, this article tracks the history behind our state flower, the ma'o hau hele (Hibiscus brackenridgei). It's still a widespread belief that any hibiscus, or any yellow hibiscus, is our state flower, but only the ma'o hau hele has that hallowed title.

On May 2, 1923, the territorial Legislature selected the pua aloalo (hibiscus) as the flower emblem of Hawai'i, stating in part the "... 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 ..."

The Legislature did not stipulate a specific hibiscus, so a red hibiscus was unofficially treated as the flower emblem of Hawai'i. After statehood, however, there was a growing interest in addressing the issue of an authoritative state flower. In Act 177, approved on June 6, 1988, almost 30 years after statehood, the Legislature adopted the ma'o hau hele as the official state flower.

Later, state law was amended to define an official flower or lei material for each island. Act 165, of the 2000 Legislature, was signed by Gov. Ben Cayetano on June 9, 2000.

Ma'o hau hele is usually a 3- to 15-foot shrub, but can maintain growth into a small tree. Juvenile plants have a smooth, tan trunk, while older plants have trunks with wrinkled exteriors. The leaves are fuzzy with toothed edges, have three, five or seven lobes, and can grow up to six inches in length and width. The opulent flowers are canary yellow with a maroon center, either in single formation or in clusters at branch ends. The stamen column is also a radiant yellow. Seeds are tucked in oval capsules that are coated with soft hairs. Mature capsules release kidney-shaped seeds studded with fine hairs. 

Unfortunately, our state flower is an endangered, endemic plant. In the wild, its habitat range is dry forests and shrub lands at elevations from 400 to 2,600 feet. It's still growing on all the islands, except for Ni'ihau and Kaho'olawe, but is scarce in all locations.

Fortunately, our state flower is relatively easy to grow. Government properties and projects should plant ma'o hau hele as an integral part of any landscaping design. Let's bestow on our resplendent and exquisite state flower the prestige and exposure it deserves.