The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-07-11
The Kamani. calophyllum inophyllum,

| ana Is uS0u as u IurnlCnr0 WOOD, Tor Gala
| bashes, and was used also for spears
The collection under notice shows tw,
varieties: one a peculiar dark grayisl
ground and the other the red variety
The introduced umbrella tree" woult
furnish still another varity. The nam,
of this beautiful wood is term applied
to anything fair or of a beautiful exter
ior, hence the term "hookamani - fol
hypocrisy.
~ Two fne-grained specimens of a dull
red wood is the Kaiula, Alphitonia pom
derosa, and the Ga (not identifed)
These are very hard, close grained heavy
woods, and were used for spears, kahili
puoloulou and stats, as also for house
framing and other purposes requiring
durability. New wood of each of these
varieties is seldom met with now, the
old time spears, etc., furnishing the sup.
ply needed for tourists and presentation
canes.
The commonest wood of the islands,
yet the most serviceable, is the Ohia, OF
which there are four varieties, Wis. Ohia
or Apane, Engenia Malaccensis; Ohia-
ha or Kauokahiki, E. Sandwicensis
Ohia-Lehua or Kumakua. metrosideros
polymorpha, and the Lehua Ahihi, a
variety of same. 1t furnishes the best
of firewood, is durable for house posts,
wharf planking, railroad ties, etc. The
first named is the fruiting kind and sup
plies the cooling mountain apples of the
islands. In the Towering season this,
as also the Ohia lehua, furnish the Ha-
waiians with the brilliant red flowers
with which they so love to deck them
selves, and is woven into both legend
and song. Some varieties have certain
dye and medicinal properties. There is
little variety in the grain OF the Ohia's,
the first and last named being much
softer than the other two. The Ohis's
furnished the preferred wood for certain
idols in the old time.
The Lama, MAZDA Sandwicensis, is
found on some parts of the islands grow
ing among the ohia, and gets to market
oitentimes as an unknown firewood.
This was one of the woods held in high
esteem by the old priests and chiefs. and
was the only timber allowed in the
enclosures Of the Anuu, or handsomely
wrought high wooden fence around the
house of Lono Ca heather temple), ex-
cept the idols which were made of Ohia.
1t is the preferred wood for durability in
water, and was used for tide gates to
their fish pond enclosures. The speci-
men in the collection shows hard, fine
grain, of a notified purplish gray color
on white ground, interspersed with
black streaks.
Another wood found growing with the
Ohia in the forest belt is known as Pua
or Ulupua Olea SandWicensis. 1t is an
excellent firewood and burns equally
well green or dry. 1t is hard, durable
wood, and those acquainted with it's
properties consider it as having COM
mercial value not yet understood. The
outer part of the wood partakes of yell
low cast, with brownish center or core.
One of the difficult specimens to OBJ
tain has been the Hame or Mehame
mot identifed). This was known in
early days as fine cabinet wood,
but is now unknown except in one
or two localities. 1t differs from
all other cabinet woods, having
an indistinct, cloudy kind of grain
on the light shade of dull red, streaked
with black. 1t is difficult to season free
of checks, hence, if found in quantity,
would require great care to secure re-
turns for the outlay.
The kea or Kalamona, Mezoneuron
is hard, dark wood not un-
like ebony, except that the Kea has
more distinct grain Unfortunately this
is also a scarce variety and is not large
in its growth.
Another rich black wood in the ex-
hibit is the Uhiuhi (not identifed), and
is as hard and close-grained as the Kea;
perhaps more so. It does not all grow
SO dark, specimen from North Kona
showing a reddish black, while another
from Kau is several shades lighter still.
The Uhiuhi was used for spears, war
clubs, agricultural implements, tapa
heaters, etc, and even as an aged tool.
One of the most striking specimens In
the collection is the Kolea-lau-lli, Myr-
sine Sandwicensis, but recently recog-
nized as possessing such peculiarly
handsome cabinet properties. 1t Is OF Q
notified grain similar to certain groWths
of oak, but of a pinkish gray tint. An
other variety of the Kolea, M. Lesser
tiana, resembles the beech in grain,
though not in color. Both of these varle-
ties are we'll known woods to the Ha-.
waiian, and are found on all the islands,
the last mentioned being the more read
lily obtainable of the two. The bark IS
said to contain good tanning properties.
The Kopiko's, Kea and Cla, Stranssla
Kaduana and s. Mariniana, have similar
characteristics of grain to the kolea,
though not so marked, and partake more
of the dull red shade, more especially
the latter variety, as its native name In
dicates. 1t is classed among the ire
woods, but is deserving OF better tate,
and would be chosen for its cabinet
qualities, doubtless, if it was OF larger
growth.
Niu, Cocos nucifera (tbe cocoanut Of
commerce), is better known to the world
by its fruit than by its wood. 1t has q
peculiar grain of rich dark red with IN
Vulnerable black spear streaks that are
like iron itself for hardness. About the
only purpose to which this wood Is put
is in the manufacture of canes for pres
entation purposes, ETC., though the lam
GUS war drums of the olden time-knoWn
as the Kaeke-was section of cocoanut
log followed out, on the rounded top
end of which was stretched a shark skin.
A good specimen of a large size drnm OF
this kind is in the Kamehameha Mu-
scum, and the wonder Is how 1t was
made with the crude stone implements
of its day.
Another wood of the same character
istics as the Niu is the Hala or Puhala,
Pandanus odoratissimus, except that IN
color it is of creamy yellow, with sill
very wire-like streaks instead OF black
as IN the eocoanut.- The leaves were
used for thatching and also for making
mats.
LIONEL sTAGaE.