Uhiuhi
Caesalpinia kavaiense
Large shrubs or trees up to 30 feet tall with light green pinnate leaves, grayish colored bark and strikingly beautiful red flowers.
He kumulāʻau kiʻekiʻe (kanakolu kapuaʻi). He lau ʻōmaʻomaʻo liʻiliʻi, a he ʻili ʻāhinahina. Nani nō nā pua ʻulaʻula e kohu pua ʻōhai aliʻi.
Extremely rare, this plant is now listed as an endangered species as is found in very limited numbers in the dry forest on Kaua’i, in the Wai’anae Mountains on O’ahu, Lana’i, West Maui and North Kona on the island of Hawai’i.
Kākaʻikahi loa ka uhiuhi; ʻane nalowale. Ulu ka uhiuhi ma ka wao maloʻo o Kauaʻi, Waiʻanae (Oʻahu), Lānaʻi, Maui Komohana, a Kona ʻĀkau (Hawaiʻi).
The very hardwood (comparable to kauila and mehamehame) was used as house posts, for spears, holua sleds and ‘o’o while the flowers were strung into lei.
He lāʻau paʻa loa ka uhiuhi e like me ke kauila me ka mehamehame. Hoʻohana ʻia no ka pou hale, ihe, hōlua, a ʻōʻō. Kui ʻia nā pua i lei.
Full sun and well drained soil is best for this plant to thrive. Very little if any water is needed once this plant is established. Watch out for twig borers which slowly kill the tree limb by limb. You’ll notice it from tiny pin holes with black mold around it spewing out a gel like sap. Cut the infected areas off and treat the plant with a systemic pesticide.
E kanu i kahi e pā nui ai ka lā i ka lepo ʻākeke. ʻAʻole pono ka wai he nui. E makaʻala i ka mū wāwahiwaʻa. Ke ʻike ʻia nā puka liʻiliʻi ma ka lālā i puni ʻia i ka wai ʻeleʻele, e ʻoki i ia lālā a kīloi.
The hale pili inside of Bishop Museum came from Miloli’i and has posts made of ‘Uhi’uhi.
He pou hale uhiuhi i loko o ka hale pili i loko o ka hale hōʻikeʻike ʻo Bīhopa. No Miloliʻi mai ia uhiuhi.