Pohuehue is a ground cover that is also referred to as the beach morning glory. The creeping woody vine can reach 15 feet in length with a deep tap-root. The leathery leaves are kidney shaped or notched at the tip giving it the shape of a goats foot. The flower is trumpet shaped and colored pink to purple. They bloom close to the ground and open only in the cool morning hours.

The pohuehue grows in sunny, well-drained sites and is well adapted to salty coastal areas. It often grows right down to the shoreline because new roots develop along the nodes making it a great plant to help prevent erosion.

Ancient Hawaiians used the mashed vine as a poultice for sprains and the pounded root as a cathartic. The roots were also used as a famine food. Ancient surfers slapped the the vines on the ocean to stir up the sea and fishermen used the vines to drive fish into their nets.