‘Iliahialo‘e (Santalum ellipticum)

In Hawai‘i, the fragrant heartwood and bark of ‘iliahialo‘e were often mixed with coconut oil and used to scent and waterproof newly pounded kapa. According to Joseph Rock (1979), the older and bigger the tree, the more valuable it becomes, as sandalwood’s intoxicating fragrance increases with age. One of four endemic sandalwood, 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, 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.

In lāʻau lapaʻau (Hawaiian medicine), ʻiliahialoʻe leaves were used as a shampoo to treat dandruff and head lice. The leaves, liko (new leaves) and pua (flowers) continue to be used to make beautiful lei. ʻIliahialo‘e needs 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, but is not totally dependent on it. New seedling ʻiliahialoʻe plants are more dependent, and as they mature become less dependent. ‘Iliahialo‘e is drought, wind, salt and extreme heat tolerant with a wide elevation range. It is often a low shrub in coastal areas, but grows as a full sized tree in higher elevations. ‘Iliahialo‘e was the most widespread Hawaiian sandalwood species and the only one that grows well in leeward coastal areas. It blooms all year, forming reddish to dark purple fruits.