Hō‘awa (Pittosporum glabrum)

Hawaiian name: Hō‘awa
Botanical name: Pittosporum glabrum
Family: Pittosporaceae (Pittosporum Family)
Status: Endemic
Where found: Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, O‘ahu & Kaua‘i
Water/Light: Moist, with full to partial sunlight
Elevation range: 750 to 6,500 feet
Height: Up to 30 feet, with a 10 foot spread

Photo courtesy of Jupiter Nielsen

Notes: Hō‘awa have beautiful clusters of white to cream colored flowers and fascinating fruits that resemble walnuts. Of the 11 species of hō‘awa, this one is the most widespread throughout the Hawaiian Islands. In ancient Hawai‘i, hō‘awa wood was fashioned into gunwales (upper sides) of canoes. Medicinally, the outer layer of its fruit were used to treat external sores. One source mentions that hō‘awa was used by certain kahuna for “evil and troublesome work.” Hō‘awa is drought and wind tolerant.

*Photo courtesy of Jupiter Nielsen

From Work Done by Whit Germano to Catalog Native Hawaiian Plants
MNBG

Join Us for the
20th Annual
Arbor Day Garden Expo!

2,500 Native Hawaiian
Trees Giveaway

Please Consider
Making a Donation
Every dollar contributed to Maui Nui Botanical Gardens goes directly towards the preservation of Native Hawaiian Plants and the upkeep of our collection that includes some of the rarest specimens in whole world!

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.