Pōhuehue Pōhuehue.
Beach morning glory — a sprawling vine that anchors loose sand with runners up to 100 feet long.
Pōhuehue is the Hawaiian beach morning glory — a sprawling vine with lavender-pink trumpet flowers and thick, leathery leaves that thrives on the most exposed beach dunes.
Its runners can extend up to 100 feet across loose sand, anchoring the dunes with deep roots and creating the natural defense against beach erosion that allowed Hawaiian shorelines to survive centuries of storms.
Pōhuehue had ceremonial uses too — surfers would whip the waves with its vines before paddling out to call up bigger swells. Even today, the vine is a near-universal sight on undeveloped Hawaiian beaches.
More from Coastal Plants.
ʻŌhai
An endangered native shrub with stunning orange-red pea-like flowers and silvery foliage.
Naupaka kahakai
A wave-tough beach shrub with distinctive "half-flowers."
Maʻo hau hele
The bright yellow Hawaiian hibiscus — official state flower of Hawaiʻi.
Hala
The Hawaiian screwpine, instantly recognizable by its aerial prop roots and pineapple-like fruit.