These trees canopy over the outdoor dining area at the Hau Tree Lanai at Kaimana Beach, one of my favorite spots in Hawaii, so I planted ours with that image in mind.
The Basics
Hau, Hibiscus tiliaceus, is a tree in the mallow family, Malvaceae.
Origin and Habitat
Native and widely naturalized throughout the Pacific, including Hawaii, typically found in coastal areas and lowland wet forest.
What It Looks Like
A sprawling, fast-growing tree with heart-shaped leaves and yellow hibiscus-like flowers that turn orange-red by the end of the day. It naturally forms a dense, spreading canopy.
Uses and Flavor
Not a food tree — historically the light, buoyant wood was used for outrigger canoe parts and the fibrous bark for cordage.
Growing It Here
I planted ours at the edge of the food forest with a nice view, inspired by the hau trees canopying the outdoor dining area at the Hau Tree Lanai at Kaimana Beach, hoping someday we’ll be cracking cacao pods underneath ours just like that.
Pests and Diseases to Watch For
Nothing to report so far.
Kenta’s Take
I planted this one for a future scene as much as for the tree itself — sitting under it someday, cracking cacao, the way I’ve sat under its cousins at one of my favorite beaches.