Native Plants at KHP: Wiliwili

Name: WiliwiliLatin: Erythrina sandwicensisDescription: An endemic dry forest tree that grows up to 45 feet in height, and is found on all the main Hawaiian Islands (Wagner et al. 1999). The tree flowers during the late summer to early fall. Flowers develop into pods containing orange, red or yellow beanlike seeds (Culliney & Koebele 1999).Best Growing Conditions: Full sun; water once a week until established, and then only during drought (Lilleeng-Rosenberger 2005).Interesting Facts: Hawaiians used the light wood to make surfboards, fishnet floats and canoe parts. The seeds are often collected and strung into lei (Abbott 1992). Several introduced non-Hawaiian relatives with similarly-shaped (but different colored) seeds are often incorrectly called wiliwili (Neal 1965). There is an old Hawaiian proverb, “When the wiliwili tree blooms, the sharks bite” (Pukui 1983). More information about wiliwili can be found at: www.nativehawaiiangarden.orgText & photograph by Bruce P Koebele