Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 1, 1 January 2022 — 'A'ali'i [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

'A'ali'i

J NĀ MEAKANU 'ĀPA'AKUMA O HAWAI'I NEI < J > ENDEMIC PLANTS OF HAWAI'I r >

(Dodonaea viscosa) By Bobby Camara

The ripe seed pods of this 'a'ali'i photographed at Hawai'i Volcanoes Nahonal Park are a vivid scarlet red. - Photo: Alan Cressler

lt is the ripe seed pods, not the flowers of the 'a'ali'i that are used to make lei. The flowers of the 'a'ali'i are tiny and are either male or female. Pictured left to right, are female flowers, male flowers, ripe seed pods, and a tiny black seed in a dried pod,- Photo: Bobby Camara

"He hina nō ka 'a'ali'i kū makani, he 'ula'apū me ka lepo. The wind-resist-ing 'a'ali'i falls, [ but ] is uprooted together with the dirt." ( said of a strong warrior) - 'Ōlelo No'eau #579 Especially apropos after stormy weather in early December wreaked havoc throughout our pae 'āina, the tenacity and resilience of 'a'ali'i is instructive. Its variability seems key to success as it thrives in many places, whether as shrubs on arid coastal plains or small trees in upland rainforests. Papery seed pods in shades from pink to darkest red are used in lei. Flowers, most often male or female on separate plants, are tiny and frequently escape notice. ■