The Big Island is home to many varieties of ginger plants, most with very striking flowers and exotic fragrance. The Kāhili Ginger (also known as Kāhili Fiesta) is no exception to this, with its huge heads of bright yellow flowers. Scents of orange, pineapple, pikake, gardenia, tuberose and clove, aka Puakenikeni, these flowers are commonly used in the construction of exotic Hawaiian floral leis.

The name kahili (kah -he -lee) is named for the old yellow feather standards carried by attendants of the old Hawaiian Ali'i (royalty) since it resembles them in shape.