Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_hibiscus_waimeae
White Kauai hibiscus
Hibiscus waimeae
Open this record in the interactive Atlas
About White Kauai hibiscus
White Kauai hibiscus (Hibiscus waimeae) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and recorded on Kauaʻi. Gray-barked tree 6–10 m tall with branchlets densely covered in fine star-shaped hairs.
Kauaʻi evidence
Taxonomy, nativity, island-level occurrence, growth form, names, and source conservation assessments are documented in the 2026 census audit. Broader ecology and conservation recommendations still require claim-level source review. Generated imagery is not occurrence evidence.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Hibiscus waimeae
- Common names
- White Kauai hibiscus · Kauaʻi white hibiscus · Minature Hawaiian white hibiscus · Small Kauaʻi white hibiscus · White Kauaʻi rosemallow
- Hawaiian names
- Kokiʻo keʻokeʻo · Aloalo · Kokiʻo kea
- Other names
- White Kauai hibiscus · Hibiscus waimeae · Hibiscus waimeae var. hannerae · Hibiscus waimeae var. helleri · Kauaʻi white hibiscus · Minature Hawaiian white hibiscus · Small Kauaʻi white hibiscus · White Kauaʻi rosemallow · Kokiʻo keʻokeʻo · Aloalo · Kokiʻo kea
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Order
- Malvales
- Record type
- Species or taxonomic group
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Recorded on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Endemic
- Conservation status
- Smithsonian checklist assessments vary among included taxa: Endangered; Apparently Secure; U.S. source statuses: Endangered; No Status. Rank-specific review required.
- Evidence date
- 2026-10-05
- Evidence limits
- Island-level occurrence is retained; finer locality is intentionally withheld. Growth-form tags describe the taxon across its range, not a measured Kauaʻi population. Checklist source statuses are not a new legal-status determination. Conservation assessments differ among included lower-rank taxa; no single rank is inferred for the whole species.
Habitat and ecology
- Habitats
- Valleys · Mesic forest · Riparian slopes
- Food and resource needs
- Light, water, nutrients, and suitable soil or substrate
- Reproduction
- Viable propagules and suitable establishment conditions
- Shelter
- Suitable soil, substrate, and vegetation structure
- Growth form
- Tree
Threats and conservation
- Threats
- Habitat loss, weeds, ungulates, hybridization, low recruitment
- Conservation actions
- Rare plant propagation, outplanting, fencing, weed control
- Monitoring
- Rare plant propagation, outplanting, fencing, weed control
- Data gaps
- Additional ecological and conservation citations are recommended
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not assessed
- Seasonal description
- White Kauai hibiscus (Hibiscus waimeae) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and recorded on Kauaʻi. Gray-barked tree 6–10 m tall with branchlets densely covered in fine star-shaped hairs.
.jpg){kind=link}