Hawaii Landscape Architect Plant Materials
State Examination Hawaii State Board of Landscape
Architects Actual Questions with Answers and
Rationales 2026 | Instant Download PDF
Section 1: Native Hawaiian Plants – Endemic and Indigenous Species
(Questions 1-80)
1. Which of the following is an endemic Hawaiian plant found only in
Hawaiʻi?
A. ʻŌhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha)
B. Kukui (Aleurites moluccanus)
C. Noni (Morinda citrifolia)
D. Ti (Cordyline fruticosa)
Answer: A. ʻŌhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha)
Rationale: ʻŌhiʻa lehua is endemic to Hawaiʻi, meaning it is found
naturally nowhere else in the world. Kukui, noni, and ti are Polynesian
introductions .
2. The ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) is significant in Hawaiian
culture as the tree associated with:
A. Pele, the volcano goddess
B. Laka, the hula goddess
C. Kāne, the creator god
D. Kū, the war god
Answer: A. Pele, the volcano goddess
Rationale: ʻŌhiʻa is sacred to Pele, and its lehua flowers are associated
with the volcano goddess. The tree is one of the first to grow on new
lava flows .
,3. What is the primary threat currently affecting ʻōhiʻa lehua forests in
Hawaiʻi?
A. Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD)
B. Avocado lace bug
C. Coconut rhinoceros beetle
D. Little fire ant
Answer: A. Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD)
Rationale: Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) is a fungal disease (Ceratocystis
fimbriata) that has killed millions of ʻōhiʻa trees across Hawaiʻi Island
and Kauaʻi .
4. Which of the following is an indigenous Hawaiian plant (found both
in Hawaiʻi and elsewhere naturally)?
A. Hala (Pandanus tectorius)
B. ʻĀkia (Wikstroemia uva-ursi)
C. Maʻo (Hibiscus brackenridgei)
D. ʻIlima (Sida fallax)
Answer: A. Hala (Pandanus tectorius)
Rationale: Hala is indigenous to Hawaiʻi, meaning it arrived naturally
without human assistance, but is also found throughout the Pacific. The
others are endemic to Hawaiʻi .
5. The koa tree (Acacia koa) is prized for its wood. Which of the
following describes its native habitat?
A. Lowland dry forests
B. Mesic to wet forests at higher elevations
C. Coastal strand
D. Wetlands and stream banks
,Answer: B. Mesic to wet forests at higher elevations
Rationale: Koa grows naturally in mesic to wet forests at elevations
from 300 to 2,000 meters, often mixed with ʻōhiʻa .
6. Koa (Acacia koa) exhibits which unique leaf morphology as it
matures?
A. Bipinnately compound leaves (juvenile) to sickle-shaped phyllodes
(adult)
B. Simple leaves throughout its life
C. Needle-like leaves
D. Palmate compound leaves
Answer: A. Bipinnately compound leaves (juvenile) to sickle-shaped
phyllodes (adult)
Rationale: Koa seedlings produce bipinnately compound leaves; as they
mature, they develop sickle-shaped phyllodes (flattened petioles that
function as leaves) .
7. Which native Hawaiian plant is known as the "canoe plant" and was
brought by Polynesian voyagers?
A. Koa
B. ʻŌhiʻa lehua
C. Kalo (taro)
D. Naupaka
Answer: C. Kalo (taro)
Rationale: Kalo (taro, Colocasia esculenta) was one of the most
important canoe plants brought by Polynesian settlers and is central to
Hawaiian culture and diet .
8. The naupaka plant (Scaevola taccada) is known for its distinctive:
A. Half-flowers
B. Red flowers
, C. Spiny leaves
D. Fragrant blossoms
Answer: A. Half-flowers
Rationale: Naupaka flowers have a distinctive fan-like shape with petals
arranged on only one side, giving the appearance of half a flower .
9. In Hawaiian legend, the naupaka plant represents:
A. Separated lovers
B. The goddess Pele
C. The creation of the islands
D. The first humans
Answer: A. Separated lovers
Rationale: The legend tells of two lovers separated by circumstances;
one naupaka flower remained in the mountains (Scaevola
gaudichaudiana) and one by the sea (Scaevola taccada), explaining the
plant's presence in both habitats .
10. Which of the following is a native coastal shrub with silver-gray
leaves and yellow flowers?
A. ʻĀkia (Wikstroemia uva-ursi)
B. Naupaka (Scaevola taccada)
C. Pohinahina (Vitex rotundifolia)
D. ʻIlima (Sida fallax)
Answer: C. Pohinahina (Vitex rotundifolia)
Rationale: Pohinahina is a native coastal shrub with round, silver-gray
leaves and small purple-blue flowers. It is excellent for dune
stabilization .
11. The ʻilima (Sida fallax) is the official flower of which Hawaiian
island?
A. Hawaiʻi Island
State Examination Hawaii State Board of Landscape
Architects Actual Questions with Answers and
Rationales 2026 | Instant Download PDF
Section 1: Native Hawaiian Plants – Endemic and Indigenous Species
(Questions 1-80)
1. Which of the following is an endemic Hawaiian plant found only in
Hawaiʻi?
A. ʻŌhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha)
B. Kukui (Aleurites moluccanus)
C. Noni (Morinda citrifolia)
D. Ti (Cordyline fruticosa)
Answer: A. ʻŌhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha)
Rationale: ʻŌhiʻa lehua is endemic to Hawaiʻi, meaning it is found
naturally nowhere else in the world. Kukui, noni, and ti are Polynesian
introductions .
2. The ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) is significant in Hawaiian
culture as the tree associated with:
A. Pele, the volcano goddess
B. Laka, the hula goddess
C. Kāne, the creator god
D. Kū, the war god
Answer: A. Pele, the volcano goddess
Rationale: ʻŌhiʻa is sacred to Pele, and its lehua flowers are associated
with the volcano goddess. The tree is one of the first to grow on new
lava flows .
,3. What is the primary threat currently affecting ʻōhiʻa lehua forests in
Hawaiʻi?
A. Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD)
B. Avocado lace bug
C. Coconut rhinoceros beetle
D. Little fire ant
Answer: A. Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD)
Rationale: Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) is a fungal disease (Ceratocystis
fimbriata) that has killed millions of ʻōhiʻa trees across Hawaiʻi Island
and Kauaʻi .
4. Which of the following is an indigenous Hawaiian plant (found both
in Hawaiʻi and elsewhere naturally)?
A. Hala (Pandanus tectorius)
B. ʻĀkia (Wikstroemia uva-ursi)
C. Maʻo (Hibiscus brackenridgei)
D. ʻIlima (Sida fallax)
Answer: A. Hala (Pandanus tectorius)
Rationale: Hala is indigenous to Hawaiʻi, meaning it arrived naturally
without human assistance, but is also found throughout the Pacific. The
others are endemic to Hawaiʻi .
5. The koa tree (Acacia koa) is prized for its wood. Which of the
following describes its native habitat?
A. Lowland dry forests
B. Mesic to wet forests at higher elevations
C. Coastal strand
D. Wetlands and stream banks
,Answer: B. Mesic to wet forests at higher elevations
Rationale: Koa grows naturally in mesic to wet forests at elevations
from 300 to 2,000 meters, often mixed with ʻōhiʻa .
6. Koa (Acacia koa) exhibits which unique leaf morphology as it
matures?
A. Bipinnately compound leaves (juvenile) to sickle-shaped phyllodes
(adult)
B. Simple leaves throughout its life
C. Needle-like leaves
D. Palmate compound leaves
Answer: A. Bipinnately compound leaves (juvenile) to sickle-shaped
phyllodes (adult)
Rationale: Koa seedlings produce bipinnately compound leaves; as they
mature, they develop sickle-shaped phyllodes (flattened petioles that
function as leaves) .
7. Which native Hawaiian plant is known as the "canoe plant" and was
brought by Polynesian voyagers?
A. Koa
B. ʻŌhiʻa lehua
C. Kalo (taro)
D. Naupaka
Answer: C. Kalo (taro)
Rationale: Kalo (taro, Colocasia esculenta) was one of the most
important canoe plants brought by Polynesian settlers and is central to
Hawaiian culture and diet .
8. The naupaka plant (Scaevola taccada) is known for its distinctive:
A. Half-flowers
B. Red flowers
, C. Spiny leaves
D. Fragrant blossoms
Answer: A. Half-flowers
Rationale: Naupaka flowers have a distinctive fan-like shape with petals
arranged on only one side, giving the appearance of half a flower .
9. In Hawaiian legend, the naupaka plant represents:
A. Separated lovers
B. The goddess Pele
C. The creation of the islands
D. The first humans
Answer: A. Separated lovers
Rationale: The legend tells of two lovers separated by circumstances;
one naupaka flower remained in the mountains (Scaevola
gaudichaudiana) and one by the sea (Scaevola taccada), explaining the
plant's presence in both habitats .
10. Which of the following is a native coastal shrub with silver-gray
leaves and yellow flowers?
A. ʻĀkia (Wikstroemia uva-ursi)
B. Naupaka (Scaevola taccada)
C. Pohinahina (Vitex rotundifolia)
D. ʻIlima (Sida fallax)
Answer: C. Pohinahina (Vitex rotundifolia)
Rationale: Pohinahina is a native coastal shrub with round, silver-gray
leaves and small purple-blue flowers. It is excellent for dune
stabilization .
11. The ʻilima (Sida fallax) is the official flower of which Hawaiian
island?
A. Hawaiʻi Island
