ʻĀkia kuahiwi
Wikstroemia oahuense
Tall shrubs or small trees up to 12 ft high with very few braches. Bark is thin and medium to dark brown with white leaf scars. Leaves vary greatly but this form has larger, narrowly elliptic leaves that are light green. Flowers form in clusters and are yellow to bright green. Once pollinated, they form orange fruit with a single black seed.
He lāʻau ʻano lōʻihi ia, ʻumikūmālua kapuaʻi ma ke kiʻekiʻe loa a ʻaʻole nui nā lālā. ʻAno wīwī ka ʻili, he ʻili ʻano mākuʻe. He mau pihi keʻokeʻo ma ka ʻili o ka lāʻau. ʻOkoʻa kekahi ʻano lau ʻākia kuahiwi, a ʻokoʻa hoʻi kekahi ʻano. ʻO kēia ʻano ʻākia a mākou, he lau oloolo nui a he lau ʻōmaʻomaʻo. He mau ʻāhui pua, he pua melemele a ʻōmaʻomaʻo paha. Ke hua mai, he hua ʻālani, a hoʻokahi ʻanoʻano ʻeleʻele ko kēlā me kēia hua.
This species of ‘akia kuahiwi is found on the islands of Kaua’i, O’ahu, Maui, Moloka’i and Lana’i from lowland wet and hala forests to mesic forests, bog’s and ridges.
Ulu kēia ʻano ʻākia kuahiwi ma ka mokupuni ʻo Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui, Molokaʻi a me Lānaʻi. Ulu ma kula, ma nā ulu hala, ka naele, kualapa, a me ka wao maʻukele.
The bark of this plant was stripped to make very strong cordage. Some sources also list it as a plant used to make kapa. It was also used medicinally to treat asthma and also as a laxative. Many species of ‘akia and ‘akia kuahiwi can be used to perform a fishing method called hola to stupefy fish. Various parts of the plant were mixed with chum and spread through the water. When fish ate the mixture they became intoxicated which made them easier to scoop with a net or to spear. A concoction to execute criminals was also made from mixing the bark and roots of ‘akia kuahiwi with other plants. In addition to all of these uses the bright fruit were often strung into lei.
Lole a wili ʻia ka ʻili o ka ʻākia kuahiwi i kaula, he kaula paʻa loa nō ia. Ma kekahi mau kūmole, hiki ke kuku ʻia kēia ʻākia i kapa. No ka ʻoihana lāʻau lapaʻau, he lāʻau kēia no ka hānō, a he lāʻau hoʻonahā nō hoʻi kēia. Hoʻohana ʻia nā ʻākia kuahiwi a me nā ʻākia no ka pōpō ʻauhuhu (hola) e ʻona ai ka iʻa. Ke ʻai ka iʻa i ka palu pōpō ʻauhuhu, maʻalahi ka hopu ʻana. Hoʻohui ʻia nō hoʻi ka ʻili a me nā aʻa o ka ʻākia kuahiwi me kekahi mau lāʻau ʻē aʻe no ka ʻapu kōheoheo. Hiki nō hoʻi ke kui i nā hua o ka ʻākia i lei.
This plant looks best when treated as a specimen plant but make sure to include other plants around it since it is pretty skinny looking in nature. Other darker ground covers or lower shrubs like the more common ‘akia (W. uva-ursi) would look nice around it. Few pests bother this plant and once established in the ground it requires very little watering. Right now Hui Ku Maoli Ola native plant nursery has beautiful large specimens about 5 feet tall in 3 gallon pots for only $20.
Nani hoʻi ke kū hoʻokahi ʻana o ka ʻākia kuahiwi, akā ma muli o ka wīwī o ka lāʻau, e aho e kanu i kekahi ʻano lāʻau ʻē aʻe ma kahi o ka ʻākia kuahiwi. I hoʻohiehie ia ʻākia kuahiwi, e kanu i ka palai a i ʻole kekahi mau lāʻau haʻahaʻa ma kahi o ka ʻākia kuahiwi. ʻAʻole nui nā mū e ʻai i kēia lāʻau, a ke paʻa nā aʻa i ka lepo, ʻaʻole nui ka wai e pono ai. I kēia wā, he mau ʻākia kuahiwi he ʻelima kapuaʻi kā mākou, i loko o nā mea poho kanu ʻekolu kālani. $20 pākahi.
Another name for this plant is Aoaoa.
ʻIke hou aku: ʻO Aoaoa kekahi inoa ʻē aʻe no ka ʻākia kuahiwi.