The yellow hibiscus is the official state flower of Hawaii, representing power and respect in traditional Hawaiian culture. Each island also has its own flower, with some locals advocating for their island to be recognized as a separate state.
The state flower of Hawaii is the native yellow hibiscus. In the early 1920s, all hibiscus varieties were considered the territorial flower of Hawaii. When statehood was achieved in 1959, the legislature included many of the state symbols Hawaii had selected in revised state laws. At the time, all varieties and colors of hibiscus were included as the official state flower. In 1988 it was decided and documented that the yellow hibiscus, native to the Hawaiian Islands, would officially be the state flower of Hawaii.
Native yellow hibiscus features five bright yellow layered petals with a stamen extending from the pink or bright red center of the flower. While many cultivated varieties can be found around the world, the state flower of Hawaii is mostly found in tropical climates. It is most commonly used as an ornamental flower, although it can be used for various other purposes as well. Hibiscus is also used in hair products, herbal teas and to make paper.
In traditional Hawaiian culture, hibiscus, also called pua aloalo, serves as a symbol of power and respect. It is often used to represent old royalty. Hibiscus is typically given as an honorable gift to tourists, government officials, and other visitors to the state. Hibiscus flowers are commonly used in Hawaiian wreaths as a symbol of respect and admiration. While the state flower of Hawaii is specifically the yellow hibiscus, a variety of colors are often used in Hawaiian wreaths.
Native yellow hibiscus can be found growing profusely throughout the Hawaiian islands. There is some contention among the locals regarding the specific flower used to represent each individual island. While most agree that the native yellow hibiscus represents the Hawaiian Islands as a whole, tourists quickly learn that each separate island also claims an individual color of hibiscus to represent it. Some locals might argue that the particular color used to represent their island is actually the state flower of Hawaii.
Many locals want their specific island to be recognized as a separate state, so many of the islands have started to act as their own state and have adopted specific colors of hibiscus or other flowers to represent them. The island of Niihau claims white hibiscus, Kauai recognizes purple, the big island of Hawaii claims red hibiscus, and some islands have selected an entirely different flower as their floral emblem. For example, Maui uses the Pink Cottage Rose to represent it, Lanai claims the Yellow and Orange Air Plant, and Kahoolawe selected the Beach Heliotrope as her flower.
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