Coastal Plants

Rylen &IzakʻĀkia – Wikstroemia uva-ursi
Endemic

The bark was used to make rope andfishing line. The leaves and bark wereused to stun fish so they could becaught more easily.

Maʻo – Gossypium
tomentosum
Endemic

Reef & Gianluca

The flowers andleaves are used tomake a green dyefor kapa. Ma‘o wasbred with othercotton plants in theU.S. to make them
resistant to pests,
saving the cotton
industry.

Dry Forest Plants

Forest Plants

Rylie &Elyse

Koʻoloaʻula – Abutilon menziesii
Endemic/EndangeredKo‘oloa‘ula is a shrub with small hibiscus
shaped flowers. ‘Ula means red andrefers to the color of the flower. Theflowers are used to make lei and formedicine.

Maia &AndyMaʻo Hau Hele –Hibiscus brackenridgei
Endemic/EndangeredMa‘o hau hele is the official state flower.
The flowers only last a day and turngreen. The petals are used to treat
stomach issues. They can boost appetiteand put an end to common cold
symptoms.

Hikaru,Max & Luna

ʻIliahi – Santalum freycinetianum
Endemic‘Iliahi is the Hawaiian sandalwood. Due toits fragrance, it is used for perfume andsoap. Leaves and wood from this species
were sold to China to make carved items.

Koa – Koa acacia
Endemic

Koa is the largest
native tree withcrescent shapedleaves. The wood
was used to makeweapons, surfboards
and canoes. It
remains a favoredwood for calabashes
and bowls.

Louise & Leinani

LĒʻAHIPLANT
GUIDEDIAMOND HEAD STATE MONUMENT
Mina & Lilian

Naru & KingstonʻŌhai – Sesbania tomentosa
Endemic/Endangered

The salmon colored flower makes it afavorite lei flower. The new leaf clusters
have a nectarine fragrance.

Chappell &Reilynn

Wiliwili – Erythrina sandwicensis
Endemic

Wiliwili means to twist and refers to thetwisted seed pods. The wood was used tomake canoes and surfboards.

ʻKoki‘o ‘ulaʻula –Hibiscus kokio
Endemic/Endangered

Almost went extinct in the wild but is now
being successfully propagated. Leavesand bark used as a medicine for sorethroat and blood purification. If used in alei, the flower only lasts one day.

Written and Illustrated byGrade 4 Students of Waikīkī Elementary

Canoe Plants
Milo – Thespesia
populnea
Katie & Canoe Plant/
Natsuki Indigenous

The wood was favored for making foodbowls and platters. The bark was used
for cordage while the fruit was used as adye and medicine.

Kou – Cordia
subcordata
Canoe Plant/
Indigenous
Manoa &Dane

The wood wasfavored for carving
food bowls
because it did notaffect the flavor of
the food.

Kukui – Aleurites
moluccanus
Canoe
Plant/Indigenous
Kukui is the state
Carter, Nazeem, & Brixto
tree and is known
as the candlenut tree. The nut was litand used as a candle, mashed as foodand charcoal for tattoos.

Kī or Tī –Fruticosa
Cordyline
Canoe Plant/
Indigenous

Brayden & Myli

Kī leaves come in many colors. Theleaves are used to wrap food forcooking, woven into skirts, capes, and lei.

Coastal Plants

Dry Forest Plants

Lily &Ozzie

Kupukupu –Nephrolepis
Cordifolia
Indigenous

Kento &William‘Ākulikuli – Sesuvium portulacastrum
Indigenous

It is edible with a salty flavor. The flowers
are used for lei but too tiny to string an‘ākulikuli lei. Used as medicine for its antibacterial property.

‘Ilima papa –Sida fallax
IndigenousForest Plants

ʻAʻaliʻi – Dodonaea viscosaIndigenous

The wood was favored for making spears
and house posts. Medicinal plant for skinrashes. The long tap root enables it tostand strong and not break in the wind.

Alaheʻe –Psydrax odorata
Indigenous

Theo &Kaiji‘Ilima is in thehibiscus family
and is the lei
flower of O‘ahu.
The flowers are used to string lei andoften used as a lei for the ali‘i. Medicinal
uses include soothing injuries andhealing dry skin.

Pōhinahina –Vitex rotundifolia
Indigenous
Pōhinahina hassilvery greenleaves and purple
flowers. It has a
Miranda & Clarasage scent.
In fact, the leaves were placed in kapa
to keep insects away and could be used
for a green dye. Also a medicine forheadaches and stomach pain.

Luna & Allie

Name means“slippery like anoctopus”. Strong
wood used tomake digging
sticks, spearsand adzehandles.

Pili Grass –Heterogpogon
contortus
Indigenous

Pili means to stick orcling. The grass wasused for thatching
Hawaiian houses tomake them rain
proof. Also used as
mattress stuffing
because of its
pleasant odor.

Makeila, Denali, & Cata Lina

Palapalai –Microlepia
strigosa
Indigenous

This plant issacred to Laka,
goddess of hula,and believed to be
Laka’s physicalform. Leaves used
to make hulaskirts and lei to beworn on the head,around the neckand wrists.

Calym & Myka
Naru, Adam, & Kingston

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/

Kupu means tosprout or grow.
This fern is one of
the first plants toappear on lava
flows.

Cata Lina, Denali, & Makeila‘Uki‘uki –Dianella
sandwicensis
Indigenous

The berries areused for purple
dyes and to
make lei. The
leaves were used
for cordage androof thatching.