In tribute to the upcoming Merrie Monarch festival, I'm writing about hala pepe (Pleomele species). Hala pepe was essential in the halau hula, who used it to adorn the kuahu (altar) for Laka, a goddess of hula, and as the kinolau (animate form of a spiritual entity) of Kapo, another hula goddess.

Hawai'i has six species of hala pepe endemic to specific islands. P. aurea lives in diverse mesic forests on Kaua'i. P. auwahiensis grows in leeward Maui and central Moloka'i in fragmented dry forests. P. fernaldii is found in the remnant dry forests of Lana'i. P. forbesii and P. halapepe flourish on O'ahu. P. hawaiiensis survives on the Big Island, but is a federally listed endangered species.

Generally, hala pepe is a distinctive, small evergreen tree with sparse, stout, nearly erect branches that terminate in spiral clusters of crowded, spear-shaped leaves. Its multitude of tubular, pendant yellow-green to yellow-orange flowers are spectacular and usually bloom in late spring, although drought conditions will stall flowering and fruiting. (See Page 20 of the book "Na Lei Makamae" for an exquisite example of a hala pepe lei.) The globose cherry-shaped fruits are numerous and, when ripe, a riveting ruby color. The inner wood portion of hala pepe is whitish or light mottled yellow with reddish streaks, fine-textured, notably soft and easily cut. Early Hawaiians carved religious statues from its soft trunks.

Hala pepe lacks a hard seed coat and requires immediate sowing. Use a mix of three parts perlite to one part vermiculite. Locate in a shaded area. Germination takes from one to four months, depending on the health of the mother plant. Transplant into well-draining mix after two to four true leaves emerge. Outplant when plants outgrow a 1- or 2-gallon pot. Hala pepe flourishes best in partial sun. Enhance the planting hole with cinder. Administer an 8-8-8 NPK fertilizer every half year. Initially, water weekly; later, during times of drought. Watch for mealybugs, mites and thrips.

Hala pepe always stops me in my tracks when I discover it on hikes.

This native Hawaiian plant would be a highlight specimen and stunning cultural companion to your island garden.

Let visions of hula float into your imagination, when admiring hala pepe leaves dancing with the breeze.