Lonomea (Kāulu, Āulu)
Sapindus oahuensis
Stunning trees up to 45 ft. tall with dark, pale green leaves up to a foot long and three to four inches wide. The outer bark of lonomea is often a very light gray almost white color which adds great contrast to the leaves as well as any other dark background. The flowers are small and emerge on a skinny spike but the fruit are about two inches long, over an inch across and look like dried dates. Within the fruit is a large black, pear shaped seed that is somewhat rough in texture.
He mau kumulāʻau kiʻekiʻe; kanahākūmālima kapuaʻi. He lau uliuli nui (ʻekolu a ʻehā ʻīniha ke ākea). Hinahina ka ʻili o ka lonomea. He mau pua liʻiliʻi a he mau hua liʻiliʻi (ʻelua ʻīniha ka lōʻihi); kohu hua pāma. He ʻanoʻano nui kohu pea i loko o ka hua.
This endemic tree is found only on the western side of Kaua’i and both the Wai’anae and Ko’olau mountains on O’ahu in dry to mesic forests.
Ulu kēia lāʻau ʻāpaʻakuma ma ka ʻaoʻao Komohana o Kauaʻi, a ma ke kuahiwi o Kaʻala me Koʻolau ma ka wao maloʻo a ma ka wao maʻukele.
The black and naturally glossy seeds of lonomea were often strung into lei.
Kui ʻia nā ʻanoʻano ʻeleʻele i lei.
Plant lonomea wherever you want a nice shade tree. It is very easy to maintain, needs very little water and provides a great shelter from the blazing sun. Few pests bother lonomea and it will do best in well drained soil and full sun.
E kanu i ka lonomea i kahi e pono ai ka malu. ʻAʻole pono ka wai he nui a ke nui aʻe, he malu maikaʻi nō ia. ʻAʻole nō nui nā mū e pilikia ai ka lonomea. Maikaʻi ke kanu ʻia i kahi e pā nui ai ka lā, a i ka lepo ʻākeke.
The name lonomea is only used for this plant on the island of Kaua’i, on O’ahu it goes by either kaulu or aulu.
He huaʻōlelo Kauaʻi ʻo lonomea. ʻO ko Oʻahu huaʻōlelo, he kaulu, a āulu paha.