The Hawaii State Flower: Hibiscus
The Hawaii State Flower: Hibiscus
The Hawaii state flower is the Hibiscus, which is a large genus of about 200-220 species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae. These flowers are native to warm temperature, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world. The leaves are alternate, and ovate to lanceolate. The flowers are typically large, conspicuous, trumpet-shaped with five or more petals, ranging from white to pink, red, purple or yellow, and from 4-15 cm in width.
The hibiscus is truly one of the most beautiful flowering plants in the world, and not only is it recognized as being the Hawaii state flower but also is used as an offering to God Kali and Lord Ganesha in Hindu worship.
The Hibiscus was adopted as the Hawaii state flower in the early 1920s, but it was not until the year 1988 that the yellow Hibiscus was selected in particular to represent Hawaii. It is fitting that this specific flower be chosen as the Hawaii state flower, as it is a beautiful, indigenous blossom which grows luxuriantly on all the islands, and which appears to be most generally representative as no other flower has such a great variety in terms of color and form or is so continuously blooming.
The legislation referred to this Hawaii state flower as being an indigenous blossom, and in the year 2000, section 5-16 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes was amended to name an official flower and it also added section 5-16.5 to name an official color for each of the islands.
Other Information on Hawaii
Besides the ever-so-important Hawaii state flower, there is also other information that is important to learn about Hawaii, such as the fact that it was a native kingdom throughout most of the 19th century, and now comprises of a 1,523 mils chain of islets and eight main islands: Hawaii, Kahoolawe, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, other than Midway, are all administratively part of Hawaii.
The highest peak in Hawaii is Mauna Kea, which stands 13,796 feet, and Mauna Loa is recognized as being the largest volcanic mountain in the world by volume and stands at 13,679 feet. A few of the most popularly visited areas in Hawaii are the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Haleakala National Park, Polynesian Cultural Center, and the USS Missouri Memorial at Pearl Harbor.
Hawaii is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and exotic locations in the world and it is not at all surprising then that it is also one of the most favored travel destinations.