Hinahina
Heliotropium anomalum var. argenteum
A prostrate ground cover with one of the nicest smelling flower clusters of all the native ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi plants. Each flower cluster is comprised of up to 15 small white flowers that protrude up above a tight, silvery rosette of leaves.
He wahi kā hihi kēia e ulu papa ma ka honua. Onaona hoʻi nā pua o ka hinahina. He ʻumikūmālima paha pua o kekahi ʻāhui pua hinahina. A he mau lau hinahina kohu loke.
This indigenous plant is found throughout the Pacific, in Hawaiʻi it is found on the shoreline of all the main islands. (see additional info. below) where they may have occurred in the past. It thrives in the harsh environment along the coast nearest the ocean where there is usually intense sunlight, strong winds, and very little water in both rocky and sandy terrains.
ʻIke ʻia ka hinahina i ʻō a ʻō ma Moananuiākea. Ma kēia pae ʻāina nei, ʻike ʻia ma kapakai ma nā moku nui ʻewalu o kēia pae ʻāina. Ikaika ka hinahina i ka pā nui ʻana o ka lā a me ka makani ikaika. ʻAʻole hoʻi pono ka wai he nui, a ulu ma ka ʻāina pohaku a ma ke one nō hoʻi kekahi.
This plant will live and look best if planted in an area that most closely resembles its natural habitat, in other words, as much sun as you can give it, be planted in well drained soil, and not have too much water, don’t be afraid of planting it in a high wind area, it can handle trust me. If given too much water, shade or both the plant will grow too fast, become leggy, be greener and not look so silvery, plus the rosette of leaves will not be tight but loose and not look good. In addition, the quick, soft growth of the plant will make it more susceptible to pests like aphids, mealy bugs or scales. If you notice these pests on your plant you can treat it by either shooting it off with water or by spraying it with a pesticide designed for those specific bugs. When planted in the right location this plant is one of the most stunning groundcovers around. It looks especially nice planted around larger landscaping stones and when they’re in bloom, wow! For a limited time this plant is available at all the Home Depots for only $5.96
Nani nā pua o ka hinahina ma loko o ka lei. Ke kanu ʻia i loko o ka māla, ʻaʻole pono ka ʻohiʻohi ʻana i nā pua e ulu ʻāhiu ana, ʻoiai ʻaʻole nō laha loa ka hinahina e like me ka wā kahiko.
The flowers and leaf rosettes are highly prized and valued for lei making. It would be nice to have this plant in your own yard that way all your lei making material is there for your use and you wouldn’t have to go out and potentially diminish what few plants remain in the wild. The leaves and flowers can also be steeped in boiling water to make a nice tasting, mild tea.
Nani kēia lāʻau i ka lā. Mai kanu i loko o ka malu a mai hāinu nui. E aho e kanu i ke one a i ʻole ka lepo ʻākeke. Inā hāinu nui ʻia, a kanu ʻia i ka malu, e ulu wikiwiki, akā e ʻōmaʻomaʻo mōakāka ana nā lau, a wīwī ana nā lālā (ʻaʻole paha nani ke ʻike aku). A ke kanu ʻia pēlā hoʻi, e pilikia ana i nā ʻeleao a me nā mū ʻē aʻe. Ke ʻike ʻia kēia mau mū, e kī i ka wai, a i ʻole e hoʻopuehu i kekahi ʻano lāʻau pepehi mū. Ma ke kanu pono ʻana, he lāʻau nani loa nō ia.
One of my references says that this plant is no longer found on the island of Kaho’olawe which is strange because hinahina is the island plant of Kaho’olawe just like how ‘ilima is for O’ahu and Lokelani (which is not native by the way) is to Maui. Don’t confuse this hinahina plant with the introduced air plant called Spanish moss often called hinahina or Pele’s hair, there is absolutely no relation whatsoever and they only share the name because they are both silvery-gray (hinahina in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi) in color.
Wahi a ka lohe, ʻaʻole ulu mau ka hinahina ma Kahoʻolawe. A he hoihoi nō ia ʻoiai, ʻo ka hinahina ka lāʻau no Kahoʻolawe e like me ka ʻilima no Oʻahu, a me ka lokelani no Maui (ʻaʻole ʻōiwi ia lokelani.) Mai kuhihewa, ʻaʻole like kēia hinahina me ka hinahina haole i kapa ʻia ka lauoho o Pele. ʻAʻohe pili iki ka hinahina haole i kēia hinahina no kēia pae ʻāina, koe aku ka hinahina o ka lau.