The ilima is the flower of the island of O'ahu. In ancient days, ilima could only be worn by Hawaiian royalty. A member of the hibiscus family, the ilima has five petals and is much smaller than other hibiscus varieties. It is a golden color and is commonly used to accentuate lei made from other greenery. A hardy species, ilima can be found from the beaches and lava fields to the mountain forests.
