‘Iliahi (Santalum haleakalae)

There are six species of endemic sandalwood in Hawaiʻi. This species, which has two botanical varieties, has dense red flower heads with small red buds that open to white or yellow white interiors, valued for lei. They both grow in high elevation, open forest and shrubland with high light and wind exposure, but variety halakalae grows at the highest elevations and only on Haleakalā on Maui. Variety lanaiense grows along a lower range and is found on Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi. All Hawaiian sandalwood appear to need a host plant to begin growing, as it is hemiparasitic. This means it latches onto and derives some nutrients from the host plant’s roots. New seedling ʻiliahi plants are more dependent, and as they mature become less dependent.

In laʻau lapaʻau (Hawaiian medicine) ʻiliahi leaves and bark were combined with naio ashes for dandruff and lice treatments, and wood shavings were part of treatments for veneral diseases. Wood was used for musical instruments.

In Hawai‘i, the fragrant heartwood of ‘iliahi and another sandalwood species were often mixed with coconut oil or powdered and used to scent and waterproof newly pounded kapa. The wood was called laʻau ʻala (fragrant wood). According to Joseph Rock (1979), the older and bigger the tree, the more valuable it becomes, as sandalwood’s intoxicating fragrance increases with age. All Hawaiian species were virtually eliminated by overharvesting from 1791 to 1840. China and other countries had already exhausted the supply of Santalum album from India for use in carved objects, chests, and incense, so with the help of American fur traders they began trading with the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi under the rule of Kamehameha I. Today, large trees are still rare as the subsequent introduction of invasive grasses and grazing ungulates suppressed recruitment of new sandalwood trees after a kapu (prohibition) was placed on harvesting sandalwood in 1839.