Kailua has a new monument honoring one of its natural beauties: the hala or pandanus tree.

The plaque, titled Lei Ko'olau I Ke Onaona, was commissioned to remember the significant place the tree holds in Kailua's heritage, according to Kane'ohe Ranch.

The tree was brought to Hawai'i by ancient Polynesians and planted extensively in Windward landscapes.

The plaque was composed by Puakea Nogelmeier, a professor of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawai'i. It has been mounted below a 6-by-9-foot carved art panel depicting the hala, done by O'ahu artist Douglas Williams, on the Kailua Parking Building near Longs.