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Hawaii Native Plant Societies: Home

                 Native Hawaiian Plant Society Logo

The Native Hawaiian Plant Society's website states that their mission is to preserve and protect the native plants of Hawaii and to increase public awareness through education. To achieve this they "work cooperatively with government agencies, public and private groups and individuals on protection, restoration, and educational projects which benefit native Hawaiian plants and ecosystems."

  • Native Hawaiian Plant Society

Society Newsletter

  • The Hawaiian Native Plant Society Newsletter
    This newsletter is published online and is available to all.

The State Flower of Hawaii

Ma'o Hau Hele, Hibiscus brackenridgei, Hawaii, endemic
Photo by A. Gray, 2000.

Ma'o Hau Hele, Hibiscus brackenridgei, is an endemic species of Hawaii and the official state flower. It is found on all the islands but is not common.

Recommended Reading

  • Book CoverHawaiian Heritage Plants by Angela K. Kepler
    Call Number: DU624.65 .K46 1998
    ISBN: 0824819942
    Publication Date: 1998-01-01
  • Book CoverA Native Hawaiian Garden by John L. Culliney; Bruce P. Koeble
    Call Number: SB439.24.H3 C85 1999
    ISBN: 0824821769
    Publication Date: 1999-01-01
  • Book CoverHawaii's Native Plants by Bruce A. Bohm
    Call Number: QK 472.66 .B64 2004
    ISBN: 9781566476669
    Publication Date: 2004-01-01
  • Book CoverRare endemic plants of the Hawaiian islands by by Harold St. John
    Call Number: QK86.U5 S73 1981
    Publication Date: 1981
  • Book CoverDavid Douglas by Ann L. Mitchell; Syd House
    Call Number: QK31.D65 M57 1999
    ISBN: 1854105914
    Publication Date: 1999-05-01

Historical Notes

Ship from Captain Cook's voyage to Hawaii

Hawaii’s botanical discovery may have begun with Captain Cook’s third voyage to the island in 1776. On board was the unassuming young botanist David Nelson from England. This four year journey uncovered several new species which have been rarely studied. Seven years later he was appointed botanist of the HMS Bounty lead by Captain Bligh and was part of the group that was cast adrift in a small boat. He survived this grueling trip and landed safely in Timor where he very shortly thereafter began collecting botanical specimens—but he soon succumbed to fever.

David Douglas

David Douglas (1799-1834) was born in Scotland and trained as a botanist in Glasgow. Besides his overwhelming discoveries of firs in the great northwest he also traveled to Hawaii several times during his short lifetime.

  • David Nelson
  • Last Updated: Apr 11, 2018 4:41 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.nybg.org/c.php?g=677165
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