Because of its hardness and durability, pemphis wood is used mainly for posts in house construction. It is also used to make tools, boat parts and eel traps. Leaves of casuarina, Mexican lilac and leucaena are occasionally used. Rotted coconut husks and trunks are added to compost to retain humidity. Rusty tin cans are added to provide iron.
Night blindness is a serious problem on many atolls because of a lack of vitamin A in diets.
Although not commonly used on atolls for this purpose, leaves of albizia, Mexican lilac and leucaena can be mixed in small amounts with traditional fodders as a protein-rich supplement. The leaves, fruits, roots, trunks, and branches of many of the species listed in Table 1 are used in local folk medicine. Recipes are often secret and known only to a few people. Various parts of the coconut tree are commonly used to make medicinal remedies. Oil extracted from coconut meat is used in message, and is mixed in a drink to treat stomach aches.