Delissea rhytidosperma

Photo courtesy of Jupiter Nielsen

Hawaiian name: Unconfirmed (may be called Haha, Hāhā, or ‘Oha)
Botanical name: Delissea rhytidosperma
Family: Campanulaceae (Bellflower family)
Status: Endemic, Extinct in the wild; exists only in cultivation
Where found: Kaua‘i
Water/Light: Moist, with partial sunlight
Elevation range: 850 to 3,000 feet
Height: 1.5 to 8 feet tall

Hawaiian lobeliads are a group of six endemic genera and 126 endemic species that are believed to have evolved in Hawaiʻi from a single ancestor about 13 million years ago. Delissea has 15 endemic species, of which 13 are extinct and 2 are critically endangered. This species was historically found throughout Kaua‘i in its diverse forests. A 2022 report showed that the last two known wild individuals had died, but reintroductions have been made into its native habitat. Modern kapa makers have discovered that a blueish-purple dye can be extracted from the berries to color and stamp kapa. It is easy to grow from seeds in cultivation, but is intolerant of salt spray, extreme heat, and strong winds.