Native Hawaiian Plant Month Day 2: Wiliwili

Aloha Kākou!

Welcome to Lā ʻElua (Day Two) of ka Mahina Lāʻau Kamaʻāina! (Native Hawaiian Plant Month). In case you forgot what we are up to this month, click here for a refresher! 

Lā ʻElua (Day 2): Wiliwili

Wiliwili (Erythrina sandwicensis) is an endemic Hawaiian tree, and one of the few native trees left on the island of Kaho‘olawe. Its beautiful flowers range in color from cream to deep orange, but watch out for the sharp thorns growing on its trunk and branches! This deciduous tree is also extremely useful – its flowers can be used medicinally and Wiliwili wood has been used to make canoes, fish floats, and surfboards.

If youʻd like to learn how to illustrate Wiliwili, click here.

If youʻd like to see all of our collective content for Native Hawaiian Plant Month, click here.

To get in the Lāʻau Kamaʻāina spirit this month, make sure you check us out at our Merrie Monarch Pop Up at the Grand Naniloa Hotel, (4/12 – 4/15 from 10am – 3pm), where we’ll be selling our newest creations featuring endemic species like palapalai, ilima, naupaka and several Hawaiian birds. At *this event only* we’ll have thrifted jean jackets with Naupaka, ilima, and mamane (to name a few) - inspired fabric that was featured in our MAMo Weareable Art show! (Super limited stock so run, don’t walk!) If you can’t make it to Hilo, no worries beef curries! You can still get your Naupaka on with our Naupaka Vinyl Stickers, available here on our website.

Stay tuned for more Lāʻau Kamaʻāina fun!

Mahalo for the resource used for this article:

1. Bishop Museum. “Online Database.” Bishop Museum - Ethnobotany Database, Bishop Museum, http://data.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/ethnobotany.php?b=list&o=1. 
2. “Hui Ku Maoli Ola - Transforming Land Back To ‘Āina.” Hui Ku Maoli Ola Native Plant Nursery, Hui Ku Maoli Ola,
http://hawaiiannativeplants.com/.