Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 3152587

Ma'o Hau Hele

Hibiscus brackenridgei

Also known as Hawaiian Yellow Hibiscus, Brackenridge's Rosemallow

Ma'o hau hele stands out in Hawaiian lowland dry forests with its brilliant, pure yellow blossoms that stretch over ten centimeters across. Selected as Hawaii's official state flower, this upright woody shrub opens fresh blooms daily in warm daylight to invite pollinators. Severe pressures from invasive non-native plants and introduced grazing mammals have pushed wild populations into isolated, highly protected patches.

EndangeredYellow FlowersHawaiian Native
Ma'o Hau Hele reference
Licensed referenceForest & Kim Starr / CC BY 3.0 · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Critically EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXCritically EndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Feral Goats
  • Feral Pigs
  • Axis Deer
ThreatsHabitat loss, invasive plants, feral goats, pigs, and deer
HabitatsLowland dry forests and coastal shrublands
Life span10–30 years
Classification
  1. FamilyMalvaceae
  2. SpeciesHibiscus brackenridgei
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Recognized as a shrub with large, bright yellow flowers containing a dark red central eye.
Support conservation
Observe from established trails to prevent soil compaction and damage to young wild seedlings.
Responsible observation
  • Timing: Visit dry forest preserves during mid-morning when yellow blossoms fully open.
  • Trail Ethics: Keep strictly to marked paths to protect sensitive seedling roots in fragile dryland habitats.
Related species
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