Kona's Native Hawaiian Flowers - Alahe'e

As always after we get significant rain in Kona, the Alahe'e bloom. Alahe'e is the Native Hawaiian member of the coffee family, and the flowers and leaves look very similar. In Kona, they are common in the rough triangle formed by Palani Road, Queen Kaahumanu Highway, and Hina Lani (Costco Road). These plants are about 50' off Hina Lani about halfway up, across some nasty a'a, which I traversed in slippers (just part of the enormous sacrifices I make to bring my loyal readers (Hah!) these pictures.)




Alahe'e, as you can see, has nice shiny leaves, as nice as mock orange, and beautiful, fragrant flowers. For the next week or so you should be able to smell them, if you roll down your windows, between Kealakehe and town, and on Hina Lani. Alahe'e's also drought-tolerant. More people and businesses in Hawaii should use it in landscaping.

Hualalai - Kona's Mountain

A nice sunset shot of Hualalai, Kona's 8,278 foot high guardian. Facts here.

Hawaii State Flower - Ma'o Hau Hele

From Hawaii Revised Statutes:

§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 ōhi`a lehua (metrosideros macropus M. collina), also known as the pua lehua, is established and designated as the official flower of the island of Hawai`i.

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]

The Mao Hau Hele was elected state flower in a hotly disputed election, and contested vote-counting that ended up in a very controversial Hawaii Supreme Court Decision awarding the election to the Ma'o Hau Hele. The favored Red Hibiscus, Koki'o 'Ula 'Ula, always claimed that its defeat was a political decision and was the result of McCarthyism.

This plant is in the secret mauka native plant enclosure. More info here.

Driving in Kona - Jacarandas and Silk Oaks at Hualalai Ranch

Between mile markers 30 and 31 on the upper road the jacarandas and silk oaks are in bloom. Purple and gold.




Jacaranda flowers.