ʻIlima Malvaceae Indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands Oʻahu (Cultivated)

ʻIlima may have been the only plant cultivated by early Hawaiians just for the flowers to be used for lei. ʻIlima flowers were treasured by early Hawaiians and given specific names based on their flowers, as well as leaves. Originally, lei ʻilima, or the royal lei, was reserved for royalty since they looked very much like the yellow feather lei worn only by aliʻi. Lei ʻilima were fashioned for the head (lei poʻo) or the neck (lei ʻāʻī), the latter comprising a thousand flowers!

The early Hawaiians also recognized and named wild and cultivated ʻilima. The wild types included ʻilima kū kahakai, a flat beach form; ʻilima kū kula or ʻilima kū kala, very tall form; and a plant with smaller flowers, medium height found on old lava in Kaʻū known as ʻilima makanaʻā. The cultivated, or domesticated, forms were called ʻilima ʻāpiki or ʻilima lei, a tall spreading bush with golden flowers; and ʻilima kolikukui or ʻilima kolī kukui (Lit., kukui candle or torch), an Oʻahu cultivated form with bronze red flowers.

ʻIlima kū kala along with other plant materials were placed over hot stones in the imu. The food to be cooked was then placed on the ʻilima to prevent it from being burned by the heated stones.

Medicinally, ʻilima was called kanaka makaʻi, literally meaning "good man." Early Hawaiians gave babies the juice of the flowers (pua ʻilima) as a mild laxative but apparently does not have an effect on adults. The number of buds were used was according to the age of the child. The buds were chewed by the mother before given to her baby. Wild ʻilima sap with warm sea water was used medicinally as enemas (hahano) for adults. ʻIlima flowers mixed with other plants were also used for "womb troubles." When a person felt weak, the bark of the roots were mixed with other plants and pounded together, strained and drunk as a tonic. Additionally, the root bark mixed with the flowers was used for asthma.

Other early uses of ʻilima included sleeping house construction, slats in building houses, rough baskets, and as a covering on pebbled floors in houses under floor mats and sleeping mats.

Hawaiian Queen Emma Kalanikaumakaamano Kaleleonālani Naʻea Rooke (1836-1885) enjoyed lei ʻilima over all other lei.

Flowers often used for modern lei making in combination with materials or just as one prized lei. Local lei maker, Laurie Shimizu Ide, states that it takes "about 700 blossoms for a single lei, kui pololei, straight pattern." Though lei ʻilima was associated with royalty at one time, today anyone can wear this very special and beautiful lei. When lei ʻilima is seen on the wearer, its striking beauty certainly commands attention! Fruits of the non-native maʻo (Abutilon grandifolium), when green and soft, are used with lei ʻilima, one fruit at each end of the lei; or the pale-green, cap-like calyx of the ʻilima flower is used.

Flowers are edible and can be used as a garnish with food. The flavor is mildly sweet to tasteless but with a refreshing, clean after taste.

The mele (song) "Aloha Oʻahu" by Clarence Kinney opening verse says: "Aloha Oʻahu lei ka ʻilima Kohu manu ʻōʻō hulu melemele." Translated: "Beloved is Oʻahu with the ʻilima lei Like the ʻōʻō it's golden plumage." ʻIlima is still abundant in the Hawaiian coastal lowlands and forests. Sadly, though, the Oʻahu ʻōʻō (Moho apicalis) and it's relatives, the Hawaiian honeyeaters, are now all extinct.

In 1923, the Territorial Legislature chose ʻIlima as the official flower for the island of Oʻahu.

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