Introduced by Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy, Resolution 484 grants $2,500 to assist with expenses associated with the hala fest, a celebration of the iconic tree also aimed at raising public awareness about the native Hawaiian trees set for May 18 in Puna.
Here in the islands, our state flower is the native yellow variety. But there are far more white native ones hibiscus that set them apart from other flowers because they have a fragrance. To learn more about the story behind this native flower we turned to Heidi Bornhorst, horticulturist, botanist, and native plant specialist.