The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1891-07-14
INDIGENOUS HAWAIIAN WOODS.
Continued from Page IL

till the young growth could have a
chance. 1t is still scarce and will prob
ably never again figure as an article o.
export from the islands.
The Naio or Bastard Sandalwood
Myoporum Sandwicense, was next tried
to supply China's demand for fragrant
incense in their JOSS houses, but while
somewhat like the sandalwood, its frag
rance was more pungent and not so en-
during. 1t is said to be good firewood,
burning much like pitch pine. This
term Naio is applied by Hawaiians to
this particular wood only when young OF
in green state, and when it becomes
old or the wood dry its name is changed
to Aaka. The specimens of both in the
collection show no similarity, and two
other selections of each (all from diff
ferent parts of the islands) showed the
same marked differences. The former
is of soft grain, rather open and conse-
Quently light, while the latter is of a
close grain, very hard and much heavier.
1t makes durable house timber.
The Ulu or breadfruit, Artocarpus in
elsa, is soft grained, reddish wood,
very much like the Spanish Cedar
hence its utility as a cabinet wood IS
hindered by its desirability as food
product, being in fact vegetable OF
much nutrition instead of its misnomer
as fruit. The sap of the tree is very
gummy and was used by the old bird
catchers in searching for the rare 90
feathers for the royal feather cloaks.
The leaves also were used for polishing,
and the bark for medicinal purposes.
A soft pink colored, close grained
wood, hard and evidently durable, is the
Ulei, Obsteomeles anthyllidifolia. This
grows more as straight and slim shrub
without cumbersome branches, evil
IDENTIFY suggestive for the spear uses to
which it was put by the Hawaiians, the
chiefs using Ulei spears in their amuse-
ment of spearing mice.
A'e or Hea'e, Zanthorylum Kanai-
enses, is pale yellowish wood of close
grain; used for spears, 90 handles, etc.
Aalii, Dodonaa viscosa, is a hard, fine
grained wood of recognized durability,
of dull yellow shade; leaves used for
medicinal purposes.
Aawa mot identifed) is a whitish
wood of close grain. The trees grow
large and are said to produce an edible
fruit, whose seeds have blueish coloring
properties.
Ahakea, Bobea elatior, is a good, SER
viceable yellow wood, though not pos
sessing any beauty for cabinet work I'M
less by contrast with others. 1t fur
nished the yellow rims on canoes,
was a durable wood for building, or
made good firewood.
Alahee or Valance, Plectronia odo-
rata, is another yellowish wood, but
much harder and heavier than the fore
going. Its leaves furnished a coloring
with which Hawaiians used to decorate
or stain their calabashes.
In ALA or Koli, as it is sometimes
called, is recognized the common castor
oil plant, Ricinus Communis, which
grows here in places to be quite woody.
Its young leaves are deemed effacacious
for headaches by simply bandaging
around the head.
Aka, Wikstremia foetida, Akiahala
or KauaWas, Bronssaisia Arguta, and
Akishala, Hibicus youngianus, are all
shrub woods of little or no value. The
first named is used in fishing for its
poisoning effect, and both
leaves and seeds are used incidentally.
The second named is said to produce an
edible fruit.
Alaa (not identifed) is white wood of
good, hard, grain; also used in olden
time for spears, or 90 handles, and for
house building purposes; resembles ash
in appearance OF grain.
A-u mot identifed) is one of the hard
est woods of the collection, and though
but of shrub growth has rich reddish
grain that proves it of value for small
work. Another wood very similar is the
Pukeawe or Maieli, Cyathodes Kane
hameha, though the latter partakes more
Of the Manzanita OF the Pacific Coast, ex
cept that the latter is of deeper color.
Auhau, q variety OF the Hibiscus
family. Wood white and of little value.
The light weight OF the Auhau, as also
the Akiohala, rendered these the chosen
woods used on the island of Kauai for
their pyrotechnic exhibitions from the
cliffs of Makaweli by ighing these fire.
brands and throwing them off to descend
to the sea.
Aiea, Nothocestrum breirfiorum, is a
white wood of close grain. The slender
growth of Aiea, Us also OF the Kalia,
cl8ocarpCs bitidus, were selected for
Ahos or matching rods, for house build
ng and the larger growth for the rafters,
etc.
Alani, Pelea Sandwicensis, as also the
Hukui, Aleurites Moluecana, are whitish
woods SO alike as to be distinguishable
only by their weight, the former being OF
closer grain and consequently heavier.
The nuts OF the Kukui furnish material
or working up into necklaces, jeTelry,
etc The kernel is rich in oil and fur
nished the old-time stone lamps with the
needed Illuminating power for dwellings,
pounded or bruised Kukui nuts with salt
IS Hawaiian delicacy at their luaus or
easts, that long preceded the civilized
ad at afternoon teas of sailed blanched
almonds. Kukui wood is of little or no
value, but the Alani, both in wood and
park, are credited with medicinal prop
critics, and the leaves were used for scent
ng KAPPA.
The Apiipii (not identifed) gives a
peculiar grained and rather pretty wood
# an odd shade of yellowish gray. I'm
it does not grow large. This
liant also had fragrant properties which |
1awaiians used.
Oha-wai, Clermontia grandihora, as
lso the Oha-pueo (not identifed) are |
White woods, light in weight and of little |
alue. The flowers Of the former are
much desired for lels or wreaths. The |
after bears fruit in clusters, resembling
ines in color when ripe.