Frangipani, melia, or plumeria. Whatever you call this fragrant bloom, it's coming to the end of its growing season. The trees will enter a dormant period. Leaves will drop and so will their watering needs until it gets close to spring.
Although they are not native to Hawaiʻi, the hardy plumeria continues to fascinate with its many hues and fragrances. For Plumeria Week on The Conversation, we spoke to plumeria experts and farmers from across the islands. Take a listen to those stories below.
-
Lillian Tsang/HPRThe Conversation went out to the UH Research Station in Waimānalo where University of Hawaiʻi Professor Emeritus Richard Criley did much of his work and recently took us on a walking tour. -
Tina Mahina Photography/Molokai Plumerias/Molokai PlumeriasDick Wheeler, the owner of Molokai Plumerias, says at one time the farm was the largest supplier of fresh blooms for lei sellers in the state. But drought and destructive insects have weakened his orchard of three and a half decades. -
Maui Plumeria GardensDoug Brunner is the owner of Maui Plumeria Gardens in Ha’ikū and Waikapū on Maui. As part of The Conversation's Plumeria Week, we highlight the export business of plumeria cuttings. -
Catherine Cruz/HPRTalia Portner, the horticulturist for the Koko Crater Botanical Garden, says the young crater, a result of an eruption 7,000 years ago, offers mineral-rich soil that is fertile ground for the drought-tolerant plumeria.
1 of
— plumeria pua melia honolulu airport flower stand
The "Pua Melia," or plumeria, shop at the Honolulu airport on Oct. 26, 2022.
Catherine Cruz / HPR
2 of
— Plumeria Criley LT.jpg
University of Hawaiʻi professor Richard Criley takes Hawaiʻi Public Radio on a walking tour of a UH research station plumeria plot in Waimānalo on Sept. 2, 2022.
Lillian Tsang / HPR
3 of
— Plumeria Criley LT 2.jpg
University of Hawaiʻi professor Richard Criley takes Hawaiʻi Public Radio on a walking tour of a UH research station plumeria plot in Waimānalo on Sept. 2, 2022.
Lillian Tsang / HPR
4 of
— Plumeria Criley LT 4.jpg
University of Hawaiʻi professor Richard Criley takes Hawaiʻi Public Radio on a walking tour of a UH research station plumeria plot in Waimānalo on Sept. 2, 2022.
Lillian Tsang / HPR
5 of
— Plumeria Criley profile LT 3.jpg
University of Hawaiʻi professor Richard Criley takes Hawaiʻi Public Radio on a walking tour of a UH research station plumeria plot in Waimānalo on Sept. 2, 2022.
Lillian Tsang / HPR
6 of
— PlumeriaStenopetala_LillianTsang.png
Plumeria stenopetala
Lillian Tsang / HPR
7 of
— molokai plumerias.jpg
Molokai Plumerias
Tina Mahina Photography/Molokai Plumerias / Molokai Plumerias
8 of
— Maui Plumeria Gardens
Maui Plumeria Gardens in Haʻikū on Maui.
Maui Plumeria Gardens
9 of
— plumeria borer damaged stem_LT.jpg
Plumeria stem damaged by plumeria borer
Lillian Tsang / HPR
10 of
— plumeria grove_LT.jpg
UHM research station plumeria trees on average are about 20-years old
Lillian Tsang / HPR
11 of
— koko crater plumeria.jpg
Catherine Cruz / HPR
