Brighamia insignis was named after William Tufts Brigham (1841-1926), the first director of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum in Honolulu. It is also known as alula, olulu palm, Hawaiian palm, vulcan palm or the droll "cabbage on a stick."

Pollinator an extinct hawk moth. Use a pipe cleaner to pollinate. An understorey planting, do not grow in full sun as leaves scorch.