Ask the Mayor: Where’s the Pink?

Lokkelani or damask rose. By Kurt Stüber [1] – caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/mavica/index.html part of www.biolib.de, CC BY-SA 3.0, Damasc or lokelani rose. Photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8434

Submit your own questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa at [email protected], 270-7855 or mail them to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793.

Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the “Ask the Mayor” column.

Hi Mayor:

Q: I am 9 years old and my mom is helping me to write this email. I learned in school this year that the official color for Maui is pink. How come we don’t have more pink on the island?

A: Yes you are absolutely correct. The official color of Maui is pink because of the Damask rose or Lokelani rose that grows here. It is a very beautiful flower that unfortunately is very rare, which is why you don’t see more of its pink petals around the island. Tell your mom that she may be able to take you to see the flower at the Kula Ag Park or at the Bailey House Museum. Good luck and thank you for writing to me.