(NOW-PA-KA KA-HA-KAI POO-A)

It is said that the petals on the naupaka flower were at one time complete. In a well known legend, two young lovers, Kai and Hiwa, were not allowed to be together. Frustrated by always having to meet in hiding, Hiwa plucked the naupaka flower and tore it in two, giving the other half to her lover. She fled up to the mountains with the other half of the flower. The gods looked upon the two lovers with pity, and turned each of them into half-flowers: Kai as the beach naupaka (naupaka kahakai) and Hiwa as the mountain naupaka (naupaka kuahiwa).