Each Island's Flower and Color

Hawaii’s islands are each associated with an official color and a flower, plant or lei material that reflects the character of that island. Together, these island symbols celebrate Hawaii’s natural beauty and the long tradition of lei making throughout the state.

The Big Island of Hawaii is represented by the color red and the lehua blossom of the ohia tree. The brilliant red flowers are closely associated with Hawaii’s volcanic landscapes and are often connected in Hawaiian tradition with Pele, the goddess of volcanoes. Ohia lehua can also bloom in shades of yellow, orange and other colors, but red is the color most closely associated with the island.

Maui is represented by pink and the lokelani, or Damask rose. Introduced to Hawaii in the 1800s, the fragrant pink rose became Maui’s official flower and remains one of the island’s most recognizable floral symbols.

Oahu’s color is golden yellow, represented by the ilima. Ilima flowers can appear in shades ranging from yellow to orange, but the golden-yellow blossom is especially associated with Oahu. Traditionally, creating an ilima lei required gathering and stringing many delicate flowers, making these lei particularly special.

Kauai is represented by purple and the mokihana. Unlike the floral symbols of many other islands, mokihana is known for its fragrant berries, which grow naturally on Kauai. The berries have an anise-like scent and have long been used in traditional lei.

Molokai is represented by green and the kukui. The kukui, or candlenut tree, produces small flowers and nuts that can be polished and strung into distinctive lei. Kukui trees have played an important role in Hawaiian life, and the kukui is also Hawaii’s official state tree.

Lanai is represented by orange and the kaunaoa, a native coastal plant with distinctive orange strands. It grows in dry shoreline areas and reflects Lanai’s relatively arid landscape compared with some of Hawaii’s wetter islands.

Niihau is represented by white and is famous for its treasured shell lei. Tiny shells gathered from Niihau’s beaches are carefully sorted and strung into intricate designs. Genuine Niihau shell lei are highly prized and can feature white, pink, tan and other naturally occurring shell colors.

Kahoolawe is represented by gray and the hinahina, also known as beach heliotrope. The plant’s pale leaves have fine hairs that can give them a silvery-gray appearance, while its small flowers are light-colored and fragrant.

These island flowers, plants and lei materials show just how varied Hawaii’s landscape and lei traditions can be. Visitors who would like to experience the tradition personally can also arrange a Hawaii airport lei greeting and begin their trip with one of the islands’ most recognizable symbols of welcome and aloha.