The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-01-10
Clever Paper on The Blossoms
Of Hawaii Mel.
FLOWERS ARE MANY IN NUMBER
Said to be Four Hundred Varitles.
In Valleys and On the Mountains.
Natives Love of Flowers.


Rice, OF Kauai, upon her graduation
from the Honolulu High SCHOOL,
In the past fifty years, the Hawaiian
Islands have undergone a great change
and but few people remember the time
when the Kukui trees grew on the low
lands near the sea coast.
1t is said by naturalists that the
Towering plants of the Islands exceed
four hundred varieties. Formerly the
natives would go in great numbers in
10 the mountains annually, for various
purposes such as canoe making, bird
catching, gathering medicinal herbs
and also for many other pursuits. both
of pleasure and profit.
There is no race more fond OF the
beauties of nature than are the Ha-
waiians, and many are the myths that
have been handed down from genera
ton 70 generation, seemingly from
very ancient times.
Perhaps there is no flower more not
ed than the Ohia Lehua. The Lehua
tree grows to all sizes, from the hand
some shrub of sixteen feet high, to the
forest tree of hundred. The bright
red blossoms are loaded with honey,
which is the fayorite food of the Olo-
kele, small bird with brilliant scarlet
plumage.
like those of the Lehua tree. The
Ohia-ai blossoms grow directly from
the branches, and even from the trunk,
giving the tree a peculiarly rich ap-
pearance.
The flowers are so plentiful that
when they fall the ground beneath is
covered with bright red carpet.
The fruit in shape resembles an oh
long apple with a white juicy pulp.
There are not many of the indigen
Gus flowers growing on the lowlands
now. as cattle and cultivation have al
most exterminated them. Formerly,
those which were most commonly seen
on the lowlands were the Hau, Nehe,
Wiliwili, Puakala, Pohuehue, Pilikai,
Koali-awahia, Hilo and Kou.
Perhaps of these the Kou, Wiliwili,
Nehe and Hau are the most important.
The Kou tree is now scarce, but 1t was
once a favorite shade tree, not only
because IL grew easily, but it was the
tree from which the HawaiianS made
most of their handsome and useful
dishes.
The Hawaiian Islands have never
been noted for the beauty of their flora
and TO the stranger the land seems dss-
titute of indigenous flowers. But
when one comes to search in the val
| legs and On the mountains, it is aston
| fishing the number of varieties there
are.
! In spring many clusters of flowers
/ Of a bright orange color appear, grace
/ fully set amid the light green leaves.
! The flowers of the Wiliwii tree vary
/ in color from pale yellow TO orange
scarlet The wood when dry is as
/ light as cork and is used a great deal
! by the natives for out-riggers and surf
boards.
i The Nehe. a small yellow flower,
! blooms on a bushy plant, not more
than four feet high.
! The leaves are sometimes used like
| the common tea, possessing, it is said,
some medicinal value.
The Nohuana, small white flower
which is tinged with pink, may be con-
sidered one Of the few field flowers
which the Islands possess.
| The flowers which We're formerly
used in making leis for the Chiefs, were
the lima and the kamakahula, both
| flowers being yellow, as that was the
royal color. The Kamakahula is a
waxy orange colored flower, which
/ could only be worn by high chiefs, and
ii meant death TO any common man or
woman who ventured TO wear il.
| The Paukauahi is a beautiful creep
| ing plant The flowers are OF a dark
| rich purple, a color rare in the Hawaii
an flowers.
When the Puakauhi was much more
! plentiful than it is now. the natives
made leis of it, mixing it with the bios
| som Of the Wiliwili. which is orange
scarlet. thus forming a contrast, very
gratifying TO their passion for gay col
Ors.
There are Ave different species of the
! Convolvulus family. The most common
/ one is the koali-awahia, which has a
/ delicate blue purple color, which in
the afternoon changes to pink. and fin
ally closing in the evening. The stem
and roots are much used as a medicine
/ for all kinds OF bruises or broken
. bones, with wonderfully good effect.
/ The Koali-ai, as its name implies.
was formerly used by the Hawaiians as
a food in times Of war. The roots and
stems We're the parts used.
The other varieties are the Pilikaf.
. Pohuehue and the Uala. The Uala
plant, commonly known as the sweet
( potato. Is one Of the most widely dis
/ tributed plants in the world.
/ In some parts OF the Islands. where
Kalo is not grown, the natives prin-
/ ciDal means of subsistence was the
/ Uala \ field Of Uala, entirely cover
/. ing the ground with dark green leaves
/ together with the pink blossoms. i.
quite a pretty sight, but one that is