Pā‘ūohi‘iaka is a member of the morning glory family.  There are other species of Jacquemontia sandwicensis found naturally in Mexico, the West Indies, and Africa.  The species found in Hawai’i has larger flowers.  It’s tubular flowers range from pale blue to white in color, ranging from ½ to 1 inch long.  Pā’ūohi’iaka translates to “The skirt of Hi‘iaka”, relating to the goddess Hi’iakaikapoliopele.

An important ground cover species, Pā‘ūohi‘iaka’s creeping branches and thick, shallow roots prevent the loss of sand & soil in areas sensitive to coastal erosion. They are frequently seen growing on sand dunes that border Hawai‘i’s beaches.