Discover the best White Hawaiian Flowers, which not only look beautiful but play a vital role in the state’s rich culture!
Gracing small shrubs to robust trees, these beautiful white Hawaiian Flowers are every gardener’s favorite. Though endemic to Hawaii, you can grow them in your garden as long as your climate suits their requirement! Read on to explore the best varieties below!
Best White Hawaiian Flowers
1. Awapuhi Nui
Botanical Name: Hedychium coronarium
Awapuhi Nui boasts large and fragrant white blossoms with a striking yellow center emitting a strong gardenia like fragrance that gets more potent in the evening. Beyond their ornamental use, these flowers are used in the formulation of shampoos and conditioners due to their natural cleansing properties.
2. Kiele
Botanical Name: Gardenia brighamii
Popular as the Hawaiian Jasmine, Kiele produces creamy white flowers with a waxy texture. Native to the Hawaiian Islands, it is extensively used in the crafting of leis and marks as a symbol of affection.
3. Akia
Botanical Name: Wikstroemia spp.
Akia is a diminutive shrub that boasts delicate white flowers in a star-like shape. In Hawaiian culture, these flowers are used in traditional leis and offer herban remedies as well. One of the most hardy species, it is more common in the dry and rough landscapes of the island.
4. Koali ‘awa
Botanical Name: Psychotria mariniana
Koali ‘awa stands out with its star-shaped white flowers, found in clusters. Common in the wetlands of Hawaii, these flowers have been used in traditional medicine.
5. Kokio keo keo
Botanical Name: Hibiscus arnottianus
One of the many Hawaiian hibiscus cultivars, Kokio keo keo, features beautiful white flowers with a hint of pink at the base. Apart from the rainforests, these white Hawaiian flowers are a common sight in private gardens as well.
6. Kukui Blossom
Botanical Name: Aleurites moluccanus
The Kukui Blossom, also known as the Candlenut Blossom, showcases clusters of small white flowers. These blossoms are intertwined with the very essence of Hawaii as Kukui trees flourish throughout the islands.
7. Maile
Botanical Name: Alyxia stellata
The Maile features slender, intertwining branches and small, oval-shaped leaves that exude a sweet fragrance when crushed. Maile lei are highly valuable in the Hawaiian culture for their significance in hula rituals, weddings, and other ceremonies.
8. Ma’o hau hele
Botanical Name: Hibiscus tiliaceus
Ma’o hau hele is a white flowering shrub native commonly found along Hawaii’s coastlines and lowland areas. In Hawaiian culture, its strong, fibrous bark is used in making ropes and canoe building, reflecting its major role in traditional Hawaiian life.
9. Naupaka Kahakai
Botanical Name: Scaevola sericea
Naupaka Kahakai is a coastal plant which boasts small white flowers that look like a crescent moon. This beach-loving plant thrives along Hawaii’s sandy shores, and play a vital role in the state’s cultural practices.
10. Naupaka Kuahiwi
Botanical Name: Scaevola gaudichaudiana
Another Naupaka cultivar, juwahiwi features a unique half-flower in a beautiful white color. Predominantly found in Hawaii’s upland forests, this flower holds a revered place in Hawaiian mythology, symbolizing separated lovers
11. Naupaka Uka
Botanical Name: Scaevola chamissoniana
Similar to its coastal cousin, the Naupaka Uka boasts white, half-moon shaped flowers. These blossoms cluster along the branches, giving a lush, full appearance against the plant’s green foliage.
12. Ohe Makai
Botanical Name: Sesbania tomentosa
Ohe Makai showcases delicate, yellowish-white flowers that are small and pea-like. Found along Hawaii’s coastal areas, this plant is often used in native Hawaiian medicine and as a windbreak in coastal gardens.
13. Olopua
Botanical Name: Nestegis sandwicensis
This Hawaiian native produces small, white, star-shaped flowers that grow in clusters and exude a subtle fragrance. Common in dry and mesic forests, the tree provides food and habitat for native birds and insects.
14. White Sandalwood
Botanical Name: Santalum paniculatum
The White Sandalwood has small, fragrant white flowers that cluster together and give way to red berries, adding to the plant’s ornamental value. The tree is considered rare and is protected for its valuable wood.
15. Ulei
Botanical Name: Osteomeles anthyllidifolia
The Ulei, or Hawaiian Rose, showcases small, delicate white flowers set against glossy green foliage. The dense wood of this tree is extensively used for making tools and fishing implements.
16. Waawaa
Botanical Name: Clermontia oblongifolia
Waawaa flowers are unique, with curved, tubular greenish-white blooms. These striking white hawaii flowers are a favorite among native birds, which aid in their pollination.
17. Waialeale
Botanical Name: Lobelia niihauensis
Waialeale is a rare and endemic flowering plant native to the Hawaiian Islands. Native to the high elevations of Kauai, particularly around Mount Waialeale, the flower color extends from white to pale pink as well.
18. White Hawaiian Hibiscus
Botanical Name: Hibiscus waimeae
This species of Hibiscus is known for its large, pure white flowers with a striking red center. The blossoms are renowned for their delicate fragrance, which intensifies in the evening.
19. Puakenikeni
Botanical Name: Fagraea berteriana
The Pua Keni Keni boasts a beautiful star-like shape and mild fragrance. Native to the Hawaiian Islands, this flower showcases a range of colors, including white, pink, and yellow, adding vibrancy to the local flora.
20. Alulu
Botanical Name: Brighamia insignis
Alulu stands out with its large, trumpet-shaped pale white flowers, which bloom on succulent, columnar stems. Native to the cliffs of Kauai and Niihau, Alulu holds significant cultural importance in traditional Hawaiian practices.
21. Wild Begonia
Botanical Name: Begonia kauaiensis
The Wild Begonia of Kauai enchants with its delicate, pinkish-white flowers and broad, asymmetrical leaves. Its unique foliage often develops a reddish tinge, multiplying its beauty.
22. Widow’s Thrill
Botanical Name: Wikstroemia uva-ursi
Widow’s Thrill exhibits small, bright yellow flowers, which are followed by orange-red berries. The plant has a low-lying, shrubby appearance, with dense, green foliage exhibiting medicinal properties.
23. Silversword
Botanical Name: Argyroxiphium sandwicense
The Silversword stands out with its silver-green, sword-like leaves and spectacular flowering spike, which can bear hundreds of purple, sunburst-like flowers. Endemic to the high volcanic slopes of Maui and the Big Island, Silversword is a hardy species.
24. Heavenly Queen
Botanical Name: Clermontia lindseyana
The Heavenly Queen boasts large, tubular, pale green to whitish flowers, surrounded by broad, lush green leaves. These are native to the wet forest areas, particularly on the islands of Maui and Molokai.
25. Hawaiian Myrtle
Botanical Name: Myoporum sandwicense
The Hawaiian Myrtle features small, white, star-shaped flowers, which bloom in clusters, contrasting against its dark green, glossy leaves. Valued for its hardy nature and salt tolerance, the tree is suitable for coastal planting and erosion control.
