Division; Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: kokia
Species: kauaiensis

Synonyms: Kokia rockii var. kauaiensis

Common Names:Koki’o, hau hele ‘ula

Kokia flowers are borne individually in the leaf axils near the end of the branches. They are large with showy, brick-red petals that are 10-15 cm long. The flowers are similar to a Hibiscus flower in that the stalks that support the anthers (pollen producing structures) fuse to form a staminal column that can be up to 11 cm long. By extending the anthers out from the flower the pollen is exposed to pollinators to ensure the transfer of pollen for fertilization of a different flower, therefore ensuring seed production. The fruit is a 5-lobed dry capsule (3.7 cm in length) with 3 broad, wing-like bracts (4-6 cm long) at the base and contains up to five seeds. The seeds are 10-12 mm long, 10 mm wide and are covered with short hairs.

(Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai`i. Revised Edition. Volume 1. Bishop Museum Special Publication 97. University of Hawai`i Press, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)

Kokia kauaiensis is only found on the west side of Kaua’i in Pa’aiki, Ku’ia, Mahanaloa, Kalalau and Koai’e valleys. Altogether there are less than 100 individuals in six populations. Kokia kauaiensis is a federally listed endangered species.

(IUCN 2008 Red List – kokia kauaiensis. Website accessed on 10/28/08. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/30934)
(Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai’i. Revised Edition. Volume 1. Bishop Museum Special Publication 97. University of Hawai‘i Press, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai’i.)

It is a federally listed endangered species.
(Center for Plant Conservation. http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/ASP/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=2387)

(Sakai, A.K.; Wagner, W.L.; Ferguson, D.M.; Herbst, D.R. 1995. Origins of Dioecy in the Hawaiian Flora. Ecology. 76, 8: 2517-2529.)
(Center for Plant Conservation. http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/ASP/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=2387)

kauaiensis have been cultivated in botanical gardens by seed and tissue culture. The National Tropical Botanical Garden currently has 160 seeds in its seed bank, which represents three out of the six populations. In addition, there are five plants representing two out of the six populations growing in the nursery and 35 individuals representing five of the six populations in the grounds of the botanical garden.

(Center for Plant Conservation. http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/ASP/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=2387)