Hawaiian flowers offer radiant colors for many occasions
The first item everyone wants when they step off the plane at the Honolulu airport is a lei made from beautiful Hawaiian flowers. This gift, more than anything else, is probably the most anticipated part of the trip. Fresh flower leis are so special because they say Aloha and symbolize the warmth and sentiment of this traditional Hawaiian welcome. This is especially true if the leis are made of colorful orchids intertwined with foliage such as maile vine to make an utterly beautiful object for hotel wear and evening dining out. Leis are created for different occasions, but the one you receive when you first disembark is unforgettable.
Hawaiian flowers also have other uses as an adornment. In the annual celebration of King Kamehamea, flowers are used to decorate the parade floats. King Kamehamea was the first monarch to unite the island group under a single ruler in 1810. The floats are donated by various commercial companies and the parade is a tribute to the great former ruler and an expression of hope that the people of all countries can work cooperatively with each other.
The island has many types of colorful flowers that are native to the South Pacific. Hawaiian flowers such as Heliconia and Ginger grow wild and are also cultivated for commercial purposes. There are many brightly colored Hawaiian flowers like Costus and more pastel colored varieties like Calathea. There is also quite a bit of unique foliage that is indigenous to the islands.
Unique Hawaiian Flower Colors and Shapes
Heliconia’s name comes from the fact that the flowers are usually propeller-shaped. They have slender stems with delicate flowers and usually come in a mix of red hues. Plants of this species may have spike-like vegetation, fern-like leaves, or broader leaf types.
Costus species have round flowers, but tend to be overwhelmed by the plant’s foliage. Ginger flowers also have round blooms, although some types look like the flower has split into thinner petals. The colors of these Hawaiian flowers vary, but they are usually red.
Calathea is more like spiked plants that have long, spindly flowers and usually come in earth tones. Some of the flowers in this family, especially Calathea shakers, bear a resemblance to typical ears of wheat.