Alaheʻe
Psydrax odoratum
A large tree (20-30 ft.) with glossy green leaves and small, white, highly fragrant flower clusters. As the tree grows, it has a radially symmetric growth pattern to it, somewhat like a Christmas Tree, which by the way it subs as an excellent one. Not only that if you keep it alive in a pot then you can plant it in your yard after.
He kumulāʻau ʻano nui ia (iwakālua a kanakolu kapuaʻi). He mau lau liʻiliʻi ʻano hinuhinu, a liʻiliʻi nā pua keʻokeʻo. Ke pua ke alaheʻe, pō i ke kūpaoa o nā pua. ʻO ke ʻano e ulu ai ke alaheʻe, ʻano like paha me kekahi kumu Kalikimaka; he pani maikaʻi kēia no kekahi kumu Kalikimaka. E mālama ma kekahi mea poho kanu, a kanu ma ka pā hale ma hope o ka lā Kalikimaka.
This indigenous tree is found in the dry to mesic forests on all the main islands except Ni’ihau and Kaho’olawe. In certain localities you can still find this plant along the coast
Ulu ke alaheʻe i kēlā me kēia mokupuni o ka pae ʻāina, koe ʻo Niʻihau me Kahoʻolawe. Ma kekahi mau wahi, mau nō kēia mau lāʻau ma kula a ma kapakai paha.
Digging tools and Adze handles were made from the hard wood of this plant while a black dye was also made from the leaves. In addition the flowers and fruit are used in lei.
Kālai ʻia ke alaheʻe i mau ʻōʻō me nā ʻau paha no nā koʻi. Hoʻoluʻu ʻia nā lau i wai hoʻoluʻu ʻeleʻele; puhi ʻia paha ma mua o ka hoʻoluʻu ʻana. A wili ʻia nā pua i loko o nā lei.
Alahe’e loves full sun and or partial shade and requires minimal watering once plant is established in the ground. Looks great as a single specimen plant or even used as a hedge.
E kanu i ke alaheʻe i kahi e pā nui ai ka lā, a i ʻole kekahi wahi malu iki. ʻAʻole nō pono ka hāinu nui ʻana ke paʻa ke alaheʻe. Hiki ke kanu e kū hoʻokahi a i ʻole e kanu lālani i kohu pā alaheʻe haole.
The name alahe’e means slippery/wandering fragrance. It gets this name because when in full bloom, the plant is completely covered in flower clusters and many times you’ll smell the plant before you actually see it.
ʻO kekahi kumu o ka inoa alaheʻe, ʻo ia ka heheʻe ʻana o ke ʻala. Ke pua ke alaheʻe, ʻohuʻohu ʻiʻo nō i nā pua, he mau pua e pō ai ka nāhelehele. I kekahi manawa, māpu mai ke ʻala a pā i ka ihu ma mua o ka ʻike maka ʻana i ke kumulāʻau nona ia ʻala.