The Naupaka Flower

When you’re wandering the shores of Oʻahu or exploring a mountain trail in Kaua‘i, you might notice an odd flower growing nearby: delicate, green-leafed, with petals that form only half a circle. That’s the naupaka, one of Hawaiʻi’s most recognizable native plants. There are two varieties you’re most likely to spot: naupaka kahakai, which grows by the ocean, and naupaka kuahiwi, which flourishes in the mountains. Though they live in separate ecosystems, their connection runs deep, rooted in legacy.

According to one of Hawai‘i's most well-known mo‘olelo (legends), the naupaka flower was born from heartbreak. Though there are many versions of this story, they all center on the forbidden love between a high-born maiden and a commoner. When the couple sought guidance from an elder, he told them to pray to the gods. No answer came, so the lovers resigned themselves to a life apart. The young woman tore a flower in half and gave one piece to her beloved. She remained in the mountains with her half; he returned to the sea with his. From that moment on, half-flowers began to grow—one in the uplands, the other along the shore—symbolizing their enduring love and separation. To this day, people say that bringing the two halves together reunites the lovers’ spirits.

But naupaka is more than a poetic story. It has long played an important role in both the ecology and traditional practices of Hawaiʻi. Naupaka kahakai (Scaevola taccada), which grows along beaches and dunes, is an indigenous shrub with thick, waxy leaves and pale blossoms that fan out like half-moons. Its deep root system helps prevent erosion, and its dense branches are a nesting habitat for native seabirds. Its seeds can float across oceans for months, making it a resilient pioneer plant. Naupaka kahakai grows on all the major Hawaiian Islands, and on Oʻahu, it can be found along the coast at Allen Davis Beach or Kaʻena Point.

The mountain variety, naupaka kuahiwi (Scaevola gaudichaudii), grows at elevations between 600 and 2,600 feet. It thrives in dry to mesic forests, with blossoms that are often slightly darker in color and dark berries. This species is more delicate than its coastal counterpart and can be seen along trails in Waimea Canyon on Kauaʻi or upland in the Koʻolau range on Oʻahu. Both types of naupaka plants bloom year-round, though they rarely grow near one another.

In traditional Hawaiian healing, or lāʻau lapaʻau, parts of the naupaka kahakai plant were used to treat common ailments. Its leaves and roots were applied to stings, skin irritations, and cuts. One fun fact about naupaka kahakai: if you crush up its leaves, the plant’s sap works as an amazing natural defogger for snorkel masks! Our founder, Leilani, remembers using this technique before spearfishing trips with her dad to keep her mask clear while diving.

Though the mountain variety was not used medicinally, its dark berries were used to make a purplish-black dye for kapa cloth. Additionally, naupaka flowers occasionally appear in lei, especially to honor loved ones separated by distance or time.

The naupaka, with its distinctive half-flowers found in both the mountains and by the sea, is a powerful reminder of the way Hawaiʻi’s landscapes and its people are connected. Like the lovers in the moʻolelo, who remained apart yet forever linked, the two varieties of naupaka echo a sense of unity across distance. Whether you’re at the beach or hiking through forests, spotting those familiar petals is a quiet reminder that we are never as far apart as we think.

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Mahalo to the resources used for this article:

1. Best Way to Keep Your Snorkel Mask from Fogging Up, Kahalu’u Bay Surf and Sea, 19 Apr. 2016, learntosurfkona.com/featured/prevent-snorkel-mask-from-fogging/. 

2. Gregory, Dennis. “Legend of the Naupaka.” HomeyHawaii, 9 Feb. 2020, www.homeyhawaii.com/blog/culture/legend-of-naupaka/. 

3. Murphy, Molly. “Naupaka Kahakai, the Right Plant for the Right Place.” Plant Pono, 2 Mar. 2021, plantpono.org/naupaka-kahakai-the-right-plant-for-the-right-place/. 

4. “Naupaka Kahakai.” Plants in Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife: Forestry Program, dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/plants/naupakakahakai/. 

5. “Naupaka Kuahiwi.” Manoa Heritage Center, 22 Feb. 2023, www.manoaheritagecenter.org/moolelo/native-plants/naupaka-kuahiwi/. 

6. “What Is Naupaka.” Oahu Surfing Experience, 17 June 2021, www.oahusurfingexperience.com/what-is-naupaka.