Meaning: A boast saying, "I can hold my own, even in the face of difficulties." The ‘a‘ali‘i can stand the worst of gales, twisting and bending but seldom breaking off or falling over. Notes: In old Hawai‘i, the durable wood of ‘a‘ali‘i was used to make house posts, canoes and spears.

ʻAʻaliʻi can be male or female on separate plants (dioecious) or both male and female on the same plant (monoecious). The male and female flowers are diminutive. The fruits (capsules), however, are showy and are the attractive feature of ʻaʻaliʻi.

‘A‘ali‘i has all the characteristics a black-thumbed gardener is looking for. It is showy with its multicolored (green, red and yellow) leaves and fruits (dozens of different colors). It grows fast, reaching 3-4 feet tall in a year or less. It has a wide tolerance to moisture and light levels.

Seeds of this tree will survive and grow to the burned area, making it a pioneer plant. A’ali’i are early colonizers of lava flows. Early Hawaiians used this plant for medicinal purposes while the colorful seed capsules were used in lei.

‘A‘ali‘i is a partially woody shrub that grows in many climate zones. Although it can reach a height of 30 feet, it is usually smaller. It grows in profusion in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, along the sides of Chain of Craters Road. It also grows in other dry environments, from near sea level to about 7500 feet.

Occurring naturally from sea level to 8,000 ft. elevation, ‘a‘ali‘i can be found on all of the main Hawaiian Islands. This species is very abundant in the dry forests of Hawai‘i, occurring as a pioneer species (first to grow on new lava flows) and as a dominant species in the climax forest.

May 13, 2024 · Indigenous to Hawaiʻi, ʻaʻaliʻi can be found in a wide range of habitats from dry coastal lowlands to wet forests. Hear three individuals share their heartfelt connections to …

Oct 30, 2013 · Distribution: ‘A’ali’i is an indigenous plant with a range that starts in the dry coastal lowland areas where it was once the most dominant shrub and up into the wetter mesic forests, on all the main islands except for Kaho ʻ olawe (where it most likely occurred in the past and presently it is being out planted there), and then dominant again in...

‘A‘ali‘i (Hopbush) – Dodonaea viscosa. This ‘A‘ali‘i was planted over 30 years ago by Hawaiian ethnobotanist, Rene Sylva, who began the movement to preserve many coastal native plants in Maui. Today, it is one of nearly 120 native and Polynesian-introduced species that are present at the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens located in Kahului, Maui.

Jan 1, 2014 · Take inspiration from the ‘a‘ali‘i, an attractive native Hawaiian shrub well known for its steadfastness. ‘A‘ali‘i or Dodonaea viscosa is commonly used in landscaping throughout …