Hawaii Landscape Architect State Exam 2026: 200 Multiple-
Choice Questions with Answers and Explanations | instant
pdf download
Section 1: Hawaii-Specific Plant ID & Ecology (1–30)
1. Which native Hawaiian tree has silvery leaves and is found only on Haleakalā, Maui?
A) Koa
B) ʻŌhiʻa lehua
C) ʻĀhinahina (Silversword)
D) Hapuʻu
ʻĀhinahina is an endangered plant adapted to high-elevation volcanic cinders.
2. The native fern Sadleria cyatheoides is commonly called:
A) ʻĀmaʻu
B) Palapalai
C) Lauaʻe
D) Moa
ʻĀmaʻu is one of the most common native ferns in Hawaiian wet forests.
3. Which coastal succulent was traditionally used to treat wounds and stabilize shorelines?
A) Naupaka kahakai
B) Pōhuehue
C) Ākulikuli
D) Hinahina
Ākulikuli tolerates high salinity and has medicinal properties.
,4. Metrosideros polymorpha is the scientific name for:
A) Koa
B) ʻŌhiʻa lehua
C) ʻIliahi
D) Wiliwili
ʻŌhiʻa is a pioneer species on lava flows and sacred to Pele.
5. Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) is caused by:
A) Fusarium oxysporum
B) Ceratocystis lukuohia & C. huliohia
C) Phytophthora ramorum
D) Armillaria mellea
These fungi have killed hundreds of thousands of ʻōhiʻa on Hawaii Island.
6. Which loulu palm is endemic to the Waiʻanae Range, Oʻahu?
A) Pritchardia arecina
B) Pritchardia martii
C) Pritchardia maideniana
D) Pritchardia remota
P. martii is found only in dry to mesic forests of the Waiʻanae Mountains.
7. Native Hawaiian lobeliads (Cyanea spp.) are primarily pollinated by:
A) Bees
B) Wind
C) Native honeycreepers (e.g., iʻiwi)
D) Flies
Curved corollas co-evolved with bird beaks; many pollinators are now extinct.
8. Which tree has light, strong wood used for canoes and is a nitrogen-fixer?
A) ʻŌhiʻa
B) Koa
C) Mamo
,D) Noni
Acacia koa is endemic and highly valued for woodworking.
9. The native coastal shrub with half-flowers and a beach habit is:
A) Naupaka kahakai
B) ʻIlima
C) Pua kala
D) ʻAʻaliʻi
The legend of Naupaka explains its unique half-flower appearance.
10. Which native plant is a key host for the endangered Blackburn’s sphinx moth?
A) Kī
B) ʻAiea
C) Hāpuʻu
D) Pōpolo
ʻAiea (Nothocestrum spp.) leaves are the exclusive larval food source.
11. The endemic mint Phyllostegia parviflora is critically endangered due to:
A) Fire
B) Pig and goat browsing
C) Drought
D) Lava flows
Feral ungulates destroy understory native plants in mesic forests.
12. Which sedge is used in traditional Hawaiian plaiting (moena)?
A) ʻEkahi
B) Manienie
C) Kaluhā
D) Ahuʻawa
Cyperus laevigatus was woven into mats and pillows.
13. The native shrub Chenopodium oahuense is known as:
A) ʻĀheahea
, B) ʻAkia
C) Māmane
D) Naio
ʻĀheahea is a drought-tolerant shrub in lowland dry forests.
14. Which native vine produces a large, hollow fruit used anciently as a float for fishing
nets?
A) Hue
B) Koali ʻawa
C) Ieie
D) Maile
Hue (Lagenaria siceraria) was introduced by Polynesians but naturalized.
15. The native raspberry with prickly stems and edible fruit is:
A) ʻĀkala
B) ʻŌhelo ʻai
C) Pia
D) ʻOhiʻa ʻai
Rubus hawaiensis is endemic and common in wet forests above 1,000 m.
16. Which plant’s fragrant leaves are used in lei and for lau niu (coconut leaf plaiting)?
A) Pīkake
B) Kī
C) Palapalai
D) ʻAwapuhi
Cordyline fruticosa has broad, durable leaves for wrapping and cooking.
17. The endangered Brighamia insignis (ʻŌlulu) was pollinated by which now-extinct moth?
A) Extinct hawkmoth with long proboscis
B) Native bee
C) Honeycreeper
Choice Questions with Answers and Explanations | instant
pdf download
Section 1: Hawaii-Specific Plant ID & Ecology (1–30)
1. Which native Hawaiian tree has silvery leaves and is found only on Haleakalā, Maui?
A) Koa
B) ʻŌhiʻa lehua
C) ʻĀhinahina (Silversword)
D) Hapuʻu
ʻĀhinahina is an endangered plant adapted to high-elevation volcanic cinders.
2. The native fern Sadleria cyatheoides is commonly called:
A) ʻĀmaʻu
B) Palapalai
C) Lauaʻe
D) Moa
ʻĀmaʻu is one of the most common native ferns in Hawaiian wet forests.
3. Which coastal succulent was traditionally used to treat wounds and stabilize shorelines?
A) Naupaka kahakai
B) Pōhuehue
C) Ākulikuli
D) Hinahina
Ākulikuli tolerates high salinity and has medicinal properties.
,4. Metrosideros polymorpha is the scientific name for:
A) Koa
B) ʻŌhiʻa lehua
C) ʻIliahi
D) Wiliwili
ʻŌhiʻa is a pioneer species on lava flows and sacred to Pele.
5. Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) is caused by:
A) Fusarium oxysporum
B) Ceratocystis lukuohia & C. huliohia
C) Phytophthora ramorum
D) Armillaria mellea
These fungi have killed hundreds of thousands of ʻōhiʻa on Hawaii Island.
6. Which loulu palm is endemic to the Waiʻanae Range, Oʻahu?
A) Pritchardia arecina
B) Pritchardia martii
C) Pritchardia maideniana
D) Pritchardia remota
P. martii is found only in dry to mesic forests of the Waiʻanae Mountains.
7. Native Hawaiian lobeliads (Cyanea spp.) are primarily pollinated by:
A) Bees
B) Wind
C) Native honeycreepers (e.g., iʻiwi)
D) Flies
Curved corollas co-evolved with bird beaks; many pollinators are now extinct.
8. Which tree has light, strong wood used for canoes and is a nitrogen-fixer?
A) ʻŌhiʻa
B) Koa
C) Mamo
,D) Noni
Acacia koa is endemic and highly valued for woodworking.
9. The native coastal shrub with half-flowers and a beach habit is:
A) Naupaka kahakai
B) ʻIlima
C) Pua kala
D) ʻAʻaliʻi
The legend of Naupaka explains its unique half-flower appearance.
10. Which native plant is a key host for the endangered Blackburn’s sphinx moth?
A) Kī
B) ʻAiea
C) Hāpuʻu
D) Pōpolo
ʻAiea (Nothocestrum spp.) leaves are the exclusive larval food source.
11. The endemic mint Phyllostegia parviflora is critically endangered due to:
A) Fire
B) Pig and goat browsing
C) Drought
D) Lava flows
Feral ungulates destroy understory native plants in mesic forests.
12. Which sedge is used in traditional Hawaiian plaiting (moena)?
A) ʻEkahi
B) Manienie
C) Kaluhā
D) Ahuʻawa
Cyperus laevigatus was woven into mats and pillows.
13. The native shrub Chenopodium oahuense is known as:
A) ʻĀheahea
, B) ʻAkia
C) Māmane
D) Naio
ʻĀheahea is a drought-tolerant shrub in lowland dry forests.
14. Which native vine produces a large, hollow fruit used anciently as a float for fishing
nets?
A) Hue
B) Koali ʻawa
C) Ieie
D) Maile
Hue (Lagenaria siceraria) was introduced by Polynesians but naturalized.
15. The native raspberry with prickly stems and edible fruit is:
A) ʻĀkala
B) ʻŌhelo ʻai
C) Pia
D) ʻOhiʻa ʻai
Rubus hawaiensis is endemic and common in wet forests above 1,000 m.
16. Which plant’s fragrant leaves are used in lei and for lau niu (coconut leaf plaiting)?
A) Pīkake
B) Kī
C) Palapalai
D) ʻAwapuhi
Cordyline fruticosa has broad, durable leaves for wrapping and cooking.
17. The endangered Brighamia insignis (ʻŌlulu) was pollinated by which now-extinct moth?
A) Extinct hawkmoth with long proboscis
B) Native bee
C) Honeycreeper
