The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-11-11
A FLORAL EMBLEM.

\ FLORAL EN- BLEM,
What floral emblem shall We have
here? Every country and every state
has some member Of the vegetable
creation to represent it. We have the
Lilies OF France, the Rose OF England,
The Thistle Of scotland. the Shamrock
of ireland, the Palmetto Of South Caro-
lima. and so on. The Hohenzollern's
have their corn flower, Maine has its
pine tree, Holland its tulips. The Cava-
Tiers OF England had their oak leaf, in
memory OF Royal oak day, and carried
the custom across the Atlantic with
them, and the Conservative party Of
the same country at the present time
displays the primrose, Disraelrs favor
lite flower, and has established "Prm-
rose Lodges as political force.
A few newspaper men were the other
day discussing this question, and it oc-
CURED to one mind to ask the public
upon the matter. There is nothing vital
about choosing an emblem, but it is a
good thing to have one, just as it is a
a noble thing to have a flag. 1t is not
the mere piece Of bunting or the rag
of silk but it is the sentiment which
is behind it, and which it represents.
A man dies for his flag and we honor
him in death. Many a man died for his
flower during the Wars of the Roses,
when the red rose of Lancaster strug-
gled against the white rose of York.
Those floral emblems sent twelve
pinces of the blood, two hundred of the
then mobiles, and 100000 of the rest of
the population to rather untimely
graves, and they did not have gatlings,
pompoms, and repeating rifles in those
days.
This is rather taking a gloomy view
of our emblem. However it only shows
that when once an emblem is chosen,
the people love it not for itself, but be-
cause it typifes their country or their
state. 1t is a thing of life to them,
in fact it becomes dearer than life. One
might enter upon a very lengthy dis
cussiOn upon emblems which are not
by any means confined to national and
political life, but which have played a
very strong part in religious life as
well. In point of fact embems play a
part in all life.
We have many flowers to chose from.
There is the brilliant hibiscus, the red
hibiscus, okio-ula, or there is the
more tender white hibiscus, kokio-keo-
keo, rarer and more beautiful flower
than it's scarlet and Haunting sister.
Then there is the hau with it's chang
ing color, a brilliant yellow in the
morning and a rich brown at night.
Or shall we think of the ohia-lehua,
with it's feathery scarlet tips and it's
deep, shiny green leaves. The ieie is
handsome, but would not make a good
emblem, on the other hand the nuku-
iwi is distinctly Hawaiian, one of the
most beautiful of it's flowers but un-
fortunately few know it. We have the
kou, nearly extinct, and the milo going
the same way, so we may reject them.
Another flower which has gone is the
hauhele. This was used in matching
the old grass house, but one would
wander far before finding it's brilliant
blossoms now. Then again there is the
kOali-ai, a true Hawaiian convolvulus
1t is distinctive, it is charming, but
how quickly it fades. Then there is the
pili-kai, another member of the same
family.
Shall we take the puakala which
covered, the Waikiki plains before ever
house was put on them? or shall we
consider the wiliwili with it's scarlet
nd hrilI 40
nehe with it's brilliant yellow flowers
might certainly prove attractive, and
would satisfy aspirations which are
now devoted to foreign floral emblem,
If you want modest flowers instead of
the Haunting and gaudy one, Hawaii
supplies you with the nohuanu which
is as modest as the violet, and as deli
cate as the tenderest blush on the
peach. One must not forget the onla-
al, whose brilliant blossoms light up
the darkest of our island gulches.
The list of Hawaiian flowers, true
Hawaiian flowers, might be extended,
but enough is given above for choice.
If we are to choose an emblem, we
should do it with care, and should
make it distinctive. In choosing our
emblem we have no business to choose
some imported flower. We should
choose what belongs to us. In nine
cases out of ten jewellers on these ISL
ands do not know what is indigenous
- and what is imported, We do not want
an imported emblem. We want an en-
blem of our own. Personally the writer
faYors the white hibiscus, the kokiO-
keokeO, but he knows there are many
place in these columns.