WILIWILI

• Erythrina Sandwicensis
• Palilonatae (pea family)
• Indigenous tree growing on LEEWARD SAVANNA, )-1-2000 feet elev.
• Trees tend to be more gnarled expecially in dry areas Blossoms tend to differ in specie colors, access to better soil,water
• Hawaiian Uses:
  • Light wood, used for 'Ama and I'ako-outrigger parts for canoes, fish floats on nets, surf boards,
  • Mythology- in how Wiliwili trees came into being, Moholani and Kapunohu,
  • Olelo no'eau: "Pua ka wiliwili, Nanahu ka mano,"-when the wilili blooms, the sharks bite....
  • Leaves named as shaped as the fish e.g. Lau Wiliwili (leaf) Butter= fly fish; Lau Wiliwilinukunuku 'oi'oi (long nosed butterfly fish) -logo of Waikiki Aquarium

• "Modern Use" mainly seeds for leis
• Hawaiian Wiliwili, sepals are more rounded; colors vary from coral,red, white

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Copyright © June, 1999