Wiliwili
Erythrina sandwicensis
Deciduous trees up to 40 feet tall with light green leaves, reddish-tan bark, and creamy green to dark orange-colored flowers that develop into seed pods with bright orange seeds. Sharp thorns develop on the trunk and branches. The thorns begin to fade as the tree ages.
He kumulāʻau kiʻekiʻe (kanahā kapuaʻi). He lau ʻōmaʻomaʻo, a he ʻili hāʻulaʻula. ʻŌmaʻomaʻo/ʻālani nā pua o ka wiliwili, a he wahī ʻanoʻano, ʻālani nā ʻanoʻano o loko. He mau kala ko ka wiliwili ma kona wā ʻōpiopio, a ʻaʻohe kala ma kona wā makua.
This endemic plant is found on coastal-lowland dry forests on all the main islands.
Ulu ka wiliwili i kai a ma ka wao maloʻo ma nā mokupuni a pau o ka pae ʻāina.
The light wood is used culturally for constructing canoe outriggers, floats and surfboards. The seeds and individual flowers were strung into lei.
He lāʻau māmā nō ia no ke kālai ʻana i nā ama no ka waʻa, a no ka papa heʻenalu. Kui ʻia nā ʻanoʻano a me nā pua i lei.
Wiliwili does well in any sunny, dry area. Initial watering is OK for establishment but the plant can be weaned completely, making it one of the easiest plants to care for.
E kanu i ka wiliwili i kahi e pā nui ai ka lā, a i kahi wahi maloʻo. Hiki ke hāinu i ka wā i kanu mua ʻia ai ka wiliwili, akā, mai hāinu ma hope.
MANY NON-NATIVE species of Erythrina are being grown in Hawaiʻi and they are called Wiliwili. This misleads people into thinking that all Wiliwili are native, but there is really only one and the Erythrina sandwicensis is it.
Kanu nui ʻia nā wiliwili haole i kēia mau lā a kuhihewa ka lehulehu, he mau ʻano wiliwili Hawaiʻi. Eia kā, hoʻokahi wale nō wiliwili no kēia pae ʻāina, ʻo ia kēia wiliwili nei.