For residents of the Hawaiian Islands, hibiscus flowers have many special cultural meanings and uses. In fact, Hibiscus brackenridgei, a yellow species endemic to the Islands, is the state flower.

The Hawaiian lei is known around the ... Even the type of material used in the lei has meaning – the vibrant pink lokelani is the flower of Maui while the warm-hued flowers from the a‘ali ...

These blooms are also commonly referred to in Hawaiian culture since they ... Another dainty flower with a dark meaning behind it, the bird's-foot trefoil flower symbolizes revenge.

Hearing the word "Hawaii" may drum up visions of ocean ... Lei Day celebrates the spirit of aloha and proves that the meaning of a lei goes beyond flowers on a string. Maitland tells TODAY.com ...

Many of Hawaii’s most iconic lei are made from flowers introduced from other countries ... “Our rate of endemism is very high, meaning that we have so much to lose,” she says.