Mao hau heleMalvaceae (Mallow family)Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands (Waianae Mountains, Oahu)IUCN: EndangeredOahu (Cultivated)This subspecies grows to be small trees.Mao hau hele was planted for an ornamental use by early Hawaiians.EtymologyThe generic name Hibiscus is derived from hibiscos, the Greek name for mallow.The specific epithet brackenridgei is named after William Dunlop Brackenridge (1810-1893), Scottish-American horticulturist and superintendent of the National Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C.The subspecies is mokuleianus is named for Mokulia, an area in the northern Waianae Mountains, Oahu where this subspecies is found.The Hawaiian name mao hau hele is from a combination of three things: Hau is an introduced hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus), perhaps by early Hawaiians. Hele means "traveling." Mao means green, but the yellow flowers turn green when drying. Thus, mao hau hele literally means "green traveling hau."Hibiscus brackenridgei has been chosen to represent the official flower for the State of Hawaii. (See story at the website below)
nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Hibiscus_brackenridgei...
