Kokiʻo
Hibiscus kokio subsp. st.johnianus
Ok, if you can find a more beautiful Hibiscus species than this one I gotta see it to believe it. I don’t know what it is about this flower that draws me to it but it is truly a spectacular event to witness. And don’t think that I’m over exaggerating when I say event because once you see it you count the days before the next flower bud blooms, trust me, other people that own this plant tell me the same thing. In fact someone just told me that they saw this flower blooming in the store from a distance and had to walk across the garden department just to see it up close. It drew her in, spell bounded by its beauty. This is a gorgeous shrub that is generally 4-10 ft tall. It has dark glossy green leaves with some varieties having reddish petioles that connect the leaves to the stem. But of course the most distinguishing feature of this plant is its amazing flowers. By far I feel they are the most striking of hibiscus, it has bright orange to orange red flowers that are so vivid, they almost look fluorescent.
Lua ʻole ka nani o kēia pua kokiʻo; ʻaʻohe ona like ma Hawaiʻi nei. I ʻalawa ka hia, hihia nō nā maka i ka nani o kēia pua. He lāʻau pūnohunohu kēia ʻano kokiʻo; ʻehā a ʻumi kapuaʻi ke kiʻekiʻe. He mau lau uliuli nō e ʻike leʻa ʻia ai nā pua ʻālani, ʻo ia nō ʻoe lā, ʻo ke ahi e lapalapa ana.
In the wild this rare endemic subspecies of Hibiscus kokio (typically a red hibiscus) is only found in the coastal valleys of Northwestern Kaua’i and nowhere else in the world. I’ve seen these plants growing in the wild and they stand out so much against any backdrop they almost look fake and as if they don’t belong when in fact they do.
No Nāpali, Kauaʻi kēia ʻano kokiʻo. Ma laila wale nō e ulu ʻāhiu ai. I ka ʻike ʻana i ka ulu ʻāhiu ana, kuhihewa ʻia nō paha he pua hoʻohālike, eia kā, he mau pua maoli nō ia.
Flowers used in lei as well as for a laxative. Ironic how something so beautiful is used to make something so un-beautiful (and I’m not talking about the lei).
Wili ʻia nā pua i lei, a he lāʻau hoʻonahā ia.
Whether used as a hedge or specimen plant, the St. John’s Hibiscus makes a wonderful addition to any garden. It responds very well to pruning and requires little water once established in the ground. Like all hibiscus, keep an eye out for the usual pests like aphids, whitefly and mealy bugs but don’t let them discourage you from getting one you’ll be more sorry if you don’t get to experience the flowers for yourself.
Hiki ke kanu hoʻokahi, a i ʻole kanu nui ma ka lālani i pā. Nani nō nā ʻano ʻelua o kēia kokiʻo. ʻAʻole pilikia ke kokiʻo i ka paʻipaʻi ʻana i nā lālā, a ʻaʻole pono ka wai he nui ke paʻa nā aʻa i ka honua. ʻO ka mea maʻamau e pilikia ai nā kokiʻo, ʻo ia nō nā ʻeleao, nā nalo keʻokeʻo, me nā ane ʻuku.
The Hibiscus st. johnianus is a highly variable plant. Flower colors range from dark orange-red to bright orange-yellow and there is even pure yellow variety which is extremely rare. Outside of our state flower the endangered ma’ohauhele (Hibiscus brackenridgei), this is the only other pure yellow native hibiscus. Although hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus) is also considered to be a yellow flowered native hibiscus, it’s flowers are not pure yellow since it has a large maroon center and the whole flower tends to turn pink-orange as the day goes on, the two above stay true to their yellow color until they fall off the plant.
ʻOkoʻa nō kēia ʻano kokiʻo. Eia nā waihoʻoluʻu o nā pua o kēia kokiʻo: ʻālani, ʻea, ʻula lena, lenalena, a melemele kekahi. Hoʻokahi wale nō pua melemele ʻano like me ko kēia ʻano kokiʻo, ʻo ia nō ka maʻohauhele (Hibiscus brackenridgei).