ʻIlima
Scientific Name: Sida fallax
Common Name: Golden mallow
Natural Setting / Location: indigenous to Hawaiian Islands and wide-spread throughout Pacific islands to China; found in coastal areas, arid lava fields, and dry to mesic forests
ʻIlima is a native shrub that comes in many varieties: apiki, ‘ilima lei, kapuaokanakamaimai, ‘ilima ku kala and ‘ilima makana‘a. They are known for their yellow and gold flowers that have thin, delicate petals with no scent. At least one hundred ʻilima flowers are required to sew a lei.
The ʻilima was a sacred flower to the goddess of hula, Laka, and the lei ʻilima were worn by hula dancers as well as placed on kuahu, or altars to Laka. ʻIlima has been associated with the island of Oʻahu since ancient times and is today the island’s official flower. Because of the number of flowers required to sew a lei ʻilima, they are not seen too often.
