NAME:

Hawaiian:     Koki‘o, ke‘oke‘o, hau hele, koki‘o kea, pūmakani

English:        Hibiscus

Latin:            Hibiscus arnottianus

FAMILY:      Malvaceae

STATUS:    Endemic

APPEARANCE:

Shrub or small tree up to 8 meters tall. This shrub grows near the ocean up to 100-800 meters in elevation. One of five white hibiscus.

Flowers: Large white petals with dark pink stamen. Flowers have a very slight pink blush prior to opening.  

Leaves: Shiny green with deep maroon veins, similar in color to Māmaki leaves

CULTURAL/HISTORICAL USE

There are five varieties of native white hibiscus.

According to oral history, Hibiscus Arnottianus was used in Hana Aloha.  This was a courting ritual.  After the missionaries arrived this practice was banned.