Here’s a photo of a native Wiliwili tree on the slopes of Pu’uanahulu. They are named Erythrina sandwicensis and are a native species of legume. It is the signature tree at the Hualalai monument at the entry.
The specimen that sits there now is the 2nd tree; the first one died from overwatering because the blue rock was not perforated in the bottom of the original tree pit. Trees of this size in the wild are considered somewhat rare because of the habitat in which they’re found. They will succumb to wildfires, grazing by feral animals and most recently, a gall wasp that defoliates and deforms the tree and may eventually kill it. The wiliwili is summer-deciduous and will bloom shortly after losing its leaves. The pea-like flowers come in a range of colors: apricot, chartreuse, white, yellow, red and many variations in-between. The dried seeds are often collected by artisan lei-makers. The Hawaiians have a saying that describes the blooming period: “When the wiliwili blooms, the shark bites”.
My personal footnote: These trees are native to the dryland forest regions of Hawaii where they have been growing for thousands of years. All efforts should be made to keep them in their natural habitat rather than harvest them for landscape specimens.
Erin Lee (Director of Landscape)
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