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Hawaiian Tropical Flowers and Fragrances

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The Colorful Story of Hawaiian Flowers

Since the Hawaiian Islands were formed from lava that rose up from the earth and through the water five to ten million years ago, all of its Hawaiian flowers and other vegetation "traveled" there by air or water. Seeds traveled to Hawaii in the feathers and on the legs of birds, or stuck to tree logs that washed up on Hawaii's shores. Then as people began to populate the Hawaiian islands, they brought their favorite plants with them by ship.

It's estimated that only one seed that "traveled" to Hawaii by air or water successfully established itself every 20,000 to 30,000 years. Of course, that's not long at all when you consider that the Hawaiian islands are five to ten million years old!

Hawaii's official state flower is the Ma O Hauhele, or yellow hibiscus. It's hard to find though, the yellow hibiscus considered rare on the Hawaiian islands. Your best chance of seeing the yellow hibiscus is in the Waiane mountains of Oahu.

Hawaiian Flowers by Island

Though the yellow hibiscus is Hawaii's official state flower, Hawaiians also have a special flower designated for each individual island

- The Big Island's flower is the red ohia, considered a sacred flower to Pele, the goddess of the volcano.

- Oahu's flower is the yellow ilima. Once used for royal leis worn only by chiefs, the illima remains a popular flower for leis worn by anyone today.

- Maui's flower is the pink lokelani, an unusual distinction as it is the only designated flower of the islands that is not native to Hawaii.

- Molokai's flower is the white kukui blossom, which grows from the kukui tree - the state tree of Hawaii. The Kukui nut oil is an especially moisturizing, nourishing ingredient in natural skin care products.

- Lanai's flower is an orange or yellow air plant called the kaunaoa, a flowering vine that Hawaiians braid and twist to form leis.

- Kahoolawe's flower is the hinahina, or Beach Heliotrope, a rare find in the wild that is treasured by lei makers for the flower's silvery white to pale purple appearance.

- Kauai and Niihau's flowers aren't flowers at all. Kauai's "flower" is the mokihana, a green berry that Hawaiians string like beads. Niihau's "flower" is the white pupu shell, which can be found all over the beaches of Niihau.

Some of the first surfboards and fishing floats were made from the flowering Wiliwili tree, which grows abundantly all over the main islands. The best time of year to see the Wiliwili tree's orange, yellow or green blossoms is in June, July and August.

The branches of the coconut tree are lined with rows of flowers, each one of which is capable of producing up to 40 coconuts.

May Day is "Lei Day" in Hawaii, the formal celebration of the Hawaiian flower leis now famous all over the world. Made from plumeria, pikake, ilima and other Hawaiian flowers, leis may be given on any occasion, though they're traditionally for showing affection and congratulations.

Hawaii is the only state in America that produces the vanilla bean, grown from a flowering orchid plant, which incidentally is the only orchid (of 20,000 different varieties) that produces something edible.

For centuries, Hawaiians have used local flowering plants as the sources for natural skin care ingredients. In more modern times the discovery of these wonderful tropical fragrances has led to the creation of Hawaiian flower perfumes. Any way you look at it these versatile flowers have much to offer.