Discover the Beauty and Meaning of Native Hawaiian Plants

This article was updated on April 17, 2026.

With so many thriving tropical plants and flowers in Hawaiʻi, you might think they are all from here, but that is rarely the case. Most were introduced from around the world. Those that are endemic — meaning they are found nowhere else in the world — are either extinct are hard to find.

You may find it disheartening to learn that the orchids or fragrant pikake and plumeria on your lei are not originally from Hawaiʻi, but learning about the flora that is native, or endemic, to Hawaiʻi will make it that much more exciting when you spot one out in the wild.

Native vs. Endemic

Native and endemic are related terms, but not interchangeable. A native species is one that arrived in Hawaiʻi naturally, without human assistance, before Western contact. Seeds may have drifted across the ocean, blown in on the wind or arrived in the feathers or digestive tracts of migratory birds. These species established themselves and became part of the Hawaiian ecosystem over thousands of years. Native species can also be found in other parts of the world.

An endemic species is one that is native to Hawaiʻi and found nowhere else on Earth. Because the Hawaiian Islands are among the most isolated landmasses on the planet, many species that arrived here evolved over millennia into entirely new forms, adapting to the islands' unique soils, elevations and climates. Roughly 90% of Hawaiʻi's native flowering plants are found nowhere else in the world.

All endemic species are native, but not all native species are endemic. Both native and endemic plants are under significant threat from invasive species, habitat loss and climate change, making their protection one of the most urgent conservation priorities in the Hawaiian Islands.

Koa Tree. Photo by Shutterstock.

Invasive Flora

Common plants that might do well in home gardens or farms can overwhelm a delicate native forest. Due to the number of plant species introduced to Hawaiʻi by humans, animals and birds over the past, roughly, 250 years, many of Hawaiʻi's endemic species are extinct or on the brink of becoming extinct. One of the biggest offenders is the strawberry guava. Although delicious to eat, this plant has grown rampant in Hawaiʻi push out native plants and disturb the overall ecosystem.

Canoe Plants

These were plants brought to Hawaiʻi by the first Polynesian Settlers who arrived by canoe.

Kukui Nut Tree: Also known as the candlenut tree, the kukui is Hawaiʻi’s state tree. Its silvery leaves were once worn by chiefs, and its nuts were used for light, oil and medicine. Today, the kukui lei is a popular gift for graduates and visitors.

Tī Plant: Youʻll find these growing all over Hawaiʻi. Their wide, long leaves are used for lei-making, wrapping food to cook and many other things. They are also used for good luck, healing and protection.

Learn more about the canoe crops you can eat in our

Guide to Hawaiʻi Canoe Crops.

Hala Tree. Photo by Shutterstock.

Some Native & Endemic Hawaiian Plants

ʻAʻaliʻi: A native shrub that can grow into a tall tree with wavy, shiny leaves and yellow, red or pink seeds.

ʻAhuʻawa: A native sedge, common in marshes and along streams. The fibers were used to strain coconut milk and ʻawa or twisted and used as cordage.

ʻAlaʻa: Shrubs or trees. Leaves were used for healing, while its hard wood was used to make digging sticks and spears.

ʻAmaʻu: Endemic to Hawai’i, ʻama’u grows in recent lava flows or in places that get a lot of rain.

Hala Tree: With its spiky leaves and pineapple-like fruit, the native hala tree is hard to miss. Its long leaves were used to weave mats, sails, and baskets. In Hawaiian culture, hala symbolizes transition and remembrance.

Halapepe: Tall trees, endemic to Kauaʻi, with yellow flowers that hang in clusters and produce fruit.

Hibiscus: Did you know that many of the hibiscus flowers you see in Hawaiʻi are endemic or native to the islands? The maʻo hau hele, or Hawaiian yellow hibiscus, is the state flower.

ʻIliahi, also known as sandalwood tree. Photo by Shutterstock.

ʻIliahi/Sandalwood: Native trees found at high elevation. Mostly extinct in Hawaiʻi due to 200 years of over harvesting

Kauila: A hard, heavy wood endemic to Hawaiʻi historically used for making spears, digging sticks and mallets.

Koa: The koa tree, with its strong wood, has been used for centuries to build canoes and traditional implements.

Kokiʻo Keʻokeʻo: Endemic to Waimea Canyon on Kauaʻi. Produces aromatic white hibiscus flowers

Kupukupu: A native fern with leaves that resemble fish bones, often called a fishbone fern. One of the first plants to grow out of a lava field.

Loulu: Hawaiʻi's only endemic palm. Endemic to Kōkeʻe National Park on Kauaʻi.

Naio: A shrub indigenous to Hawai’i with white flowers. Mostly found in forests, but can also be found along shorelines and growing from lava fields.

Naupaka Kuahiwi: Endemic small shrubs that produce white "half flowers", commonly used in lei-making.

ʻŌhiʻa Lehua: This endemic plant is often the first to grow on fresh lava flows. Its red, fuzzy blossoms are a favorite of native honeycreeper birds. According to legend, lovers ʻŌhiʻa and Lehua were turned into the tree and flower by the volcano goddess Pele.

Palapalai: Indigenous to Hawaiʻi. A fern used in lei-making.

ʻUkiʻuki: A perennial herb native to Hawaiʻi. Used historically for its purple berries that produce blue dye and small blue and white flowers.

Where to See Native & Endemic Hawaiian Plants

If you want to experience the beauty of native Hawaiian plants in their natural environment there are several parks to choose from state-wide. Botanical gardens also give visitors an opportunity to learn more. You can find these plants across all the main islands, with some exceptions like Kahoʻolawe and Niʻihau. The native range of these plants includes Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island.

Kōkeʻe State Park – Kauaʻi

Located high above the Nā Pali Coast, Kōkeʻe State Park is a cool, misty escape that feels worlds away from the beach. The park is home to native ferns, ʻōhiʻa lehua trees and rare bird species found nowhere else on Earth. Don’t miss the Kōkeʻe Natural History Museum, which features native plant gardens and interpretive hikes.

Kokeʻe State Park Nature Trail, Kauaʻi. Photo by Sarah Burchard.

Limahuli Garden & Preserve – Kauaʻi

Part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, Limahuli Garden & Preserve showcases ancient agricultural terraces and native forest restoration. You’ll see traditional Hawaiian farming techniques and sacred plants that have nourished island life for centuries.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park – Hawaiʻi Island

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is more than a volcanic wonderland, it’s also a haven for endemic plant life. From rainforests to lava fields, it hosts species like the silversword and hapuʻu fern. Ranger-led walks often highlight the plants’ importance to Hawaiian culture and ecosystem health.

Lyon Arboretum – Oʻahu

Tucked into lush Mānoa Valley, the Lyon Arboretum offers over 200 acres of tropical gardens and active conservation zones. Native koa and ‘ōhiʻa trees grow alongside endangered plants being restored for future generations.

Cultural Etiquette: Look, Don’t Touch

When exploring Hawaiʻi’s lush trails and gardens, it can be tempting to pick a flower or take a plant home. But it’s important to respect both the land and local customs by leaving everything exactly the way you found it.

Keep these tips in mind:

• Don’t pick native plants or flowers on trails or in protected areas.

• Never remove rocks, coral, or soil.

• Avoid moving plants between islands or bringing them home — this prevents the spreading of pests.

This article was originally written on April 1, 2025 and updated on April 17, 2026.