Wiliwili
Description: Tree to 15 m (45 ft.) in height. Bark rough, reddish with spines, appears yellow at distance. Leaflets grouped in threes, each is broad and oval in shape; leaves shed early fall or late summer. Flowers are usually orange, sometimes white, yellow, or greenish, shaped like pea blossoms. Large pods contain 1-3 large red/orange seeds, that resemble beans.
Did You Know?: Wiliwili was the preferred wood choice for papa he’e nalu (surfboards), either alaia (long boards) or olo (short boards)
ʻōlelo mua (Introduction):
Inoa(Name):
- Scientific – Erythrina sandwicensis
- Hawaiian – Wiliwili
ʻOhana: Part of Fabaceae family
Kūlana olakino(Status): Endemic
Lāʻau lapaʻau(Medicinal Use):
The flowers of the wiliwili are used to treat venereal disease.
A tea from the pounded bark is combined with nioi (chili pepper, Capsicum annuum), another herb, and ‘awa (Piper methysticum), in the morning it is followed with koali (Ipomoea spp.) (Akana 1922:74; Chun 1998:52–53)
Ways it was Used:
- It was believed that when wiliwili were flowering along the coast, sharks were most likely to bite
- typically used on canoe for outrigger float
- B/c it is lightweight, was used as fishing gear container and would float if wa’a(canoe) was upset. Was also used for net floats
- Seeds and flowers were used to make beautiful permanent and temporary lei.
Kino lau(Many Forms taken by Supernatural body): None
