Image: Bobea sandwicensis

Description: ʻAhakea Rubiaceae Hawaiian endemic genus Status: Vulnerable Oʻahu (Cultivated) Early Hawaiians had many uses for ʻahakea. It was used for canoe (waʻa) construction, the hard yellowish or reddish wood of ʻahakea was the most favorite wood for making gunwales strakes (moʻo), the forward end piece (lāʻau ihu), and the aft piece (lāʻau hope). Canoe paddles were also made from ʻahakea wood. It was also the preferred to frame hale (house) doorways and door frames (lapauila) because the reddish or yellowish colored wood was a chiefly color. Poi boards (papa kuʻi poi) were made from ʻahakea because its close grained wood. ʻAhakea, mixed with kukui nuts, was also used medicinally to help with abseces, burst sores (ʻili pūhō); scar, perhaps tuberculosis; (ʻalaʻala); and itch, ulcer (meʻeau). The bark and leaves were boiled and used to bathe in.
Title: Bobea sandwicensis
Credit: Bobea sandwicensis Uploaded by Tim1357
Author: David Eickhoff from Pearl City, Hawaii, USA
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
License: CC BY 2.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0
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