Kokiʻo ʻulaʻula
Hibiscus kokio
A typical hibiscus shrub (4-10 ft. tall) with extremely glossy, dark green leaves and small red hibiscus flowers.
He lāʻau pūnohunohu ke kokiʻo ʻulaʻula; ʻehā a ʻumi kapuaʻi ke kiʻekiʻe. He mau lau hinuhinu, a he mau pua liʻiliʻi ʻulaʻula.
This species is found sparingly in the dry-wet forests of all the main islands except Ni’ihau and Kaho’olawe.
He lāʻau no ka wao maʻukele a me ka wao maloʻo o nā mokupuni nui a pau, koe ʻo Kahoʻolawe me Niʻihau.
The flowers of this plant were used as a mild laxative and as a dye.
He lāʻau hoʻonahā a he wai hoʻoluʻu nā pua o ke kokiʻo ʻulaʻula.
This plant makes good for a hedge or specimen plant for your garden. It prefers full sun to partial shade and does best in well drained soil. Few pests bother this plant except for the occasional white-fly or aphid. Store bought pesticides should control the problem should it arise. Every other day watering is sufficient.
He lāʻau maikaʻi kēia no ka paʻipaʻi ʻana i pā no ka hale. Nani hoʻi ke kū hoʻokahi ʻana o ke kokiʻo keʻokeʻo. E aho e kanu i kahi i pā nui ai ka lā i loko o ka lepo ʻano ʻākeke. ʻAʻole nō nui nā mū e pilikia ai kēia mea kanu. I kekahi wā, pilikia i nā ʻeleao a me nā nalo keʻokeʻo. ʻAʻole pono ka wai he nui, kēlā me kēia ʻelua lā paha.
This species as well as Hibiscus clayi are the only types of red hibiscus that are native. All of the other red hibiscus that are seen in landscapes are introduced and/or are hybrid cultivars.
ʻO ke kokiʻo ʻulaʻula wale nō ke kokiʻo pua ʻulaʻula no Hawaiʻi nei. ʻO nā kokiʻo ʻulaʻula ʻē aʻe e ʻike ʻia nei ma Hawaiʻi, he mau kokiʻo haole nō ia.