Hawaiian Tree Names: A Guide to the Flora of the Islands

Discover the fascinating world of Hawaiian tree names! From the majestic koa to the fragrant plumeria, these unique names offer a glimpse into the rich cultural history and ecological diversity of the islands. This comprehensive guide explores the meanings behind these names, providing insights into their significance and the stories they tell. Explore the beauty and wonder of Hawaiian trees, and unlock the secrets hidden within their names.
1. **ʻAʻaliʻi:** A thorny tree with medicinal properties, used for treating skin ailments. The name may refer to the tree's thorns or the sharp, bitter taste of its berries.
2. **ʻAʻoʻe:** A small tree with fragrant flowers, used in lei-making. The name means "to sing" or "to chant," possibly referring to the sweet aroma of the blossoms.
3. **ʻAʻoʻa:** A tree with beautiful, crimson flowers. The name means "red" or "scarlet," reflecting the vibrant color of the blossoms.
4. **ʻAʻulu:** A fruit-bearing tree with large, edible fruits. The name means "to ripen," referring to the tree's abundance of ripe fruits.
5. **ʻEkaha:** A fast-growing tree with a hard wood, used for building canoes and houses. The name means "swift" or "fast," possibly referring to the tree's rapid growth rate.
6. **ʻEkaha:** A large tree with a spreading canopy, providing shade and shelter. The name means "wide" or "broad," reflecting the tree's expansive branches.
7. **ʻEkaha:** A tree with a strong, resilient wood, used for making tools and weapons. The name means "strong" or "firm," highlighting the tree's durable qualities.
8. **ʻIliahi:** A tree with a fragrant wood, used for making perfumes and incense. The name means "sandalwood," a reference to the tree's prized wood.
9. **ʻIlima:** A small tree with yellow flowers, used in lei-making. The name means "yellow" or "golden," reflecting the color of the blossoms.
10. **ʻOhiʻa Lehua:** A tree with bright red flowers, considered sacred in Hawaiian culture. The name means "ohia" (a type of tree) and "lehua" (a type of flower), signifying the tree's beauty and spiritual significance.
11. **ʻŌhiʻa ʻAi:** A tree with edible fruits, a valuable food source for the Hawaiians. The name means "ohia" (a type of tree) and "ai" (to eat), indicating the tree's edible nature.
12. **ʻŌhiʻa Lāʻau:** A tree with a hard wood, used for making tools and building materials. The name means "ohia" (a type of tree) and "laʻau" (tree), emphasizing the tree's strong wood.
13. **ʻŌhiʻa ʻŌlelo:** A tree with medicinal properties, used for treating various ailments. The name means "ohia" (a type of tree) and "olelo" (speech or language), possibly referring to the tree's ability to heal or communicate.
14. **ʻŌlapa:** A tree with fragrant flowers, used in lei-making. The name means "to blossom" or "to bloom," reflecting the tree's beautiful flowers.
15. **ʻŌlapa:** A tree with a hard wood, used for making tools and building materials. The name means "strong" or "firm," highlighting the tree's durable qualities.
16. **ʻŌlelo:** A tree with a distinctive bark, used for making rope and baskets. The name means "speech" or "language," possibly referring to the tree's unique bark patterns.
17. **ʻUhiʻuhi:** A tree with edible fruits, a valuable food source for the Hawaiians. The name means "to cover" or "to wrap," possibly referring to the tree's fruits or leaves.
18. **ʻUlu:** A fruit-bearing tree with a large, edible fruit. The name means "breadfruit," a reference to the tree's staple food.
19. **ʻUpolu:** A tree with a distinctive bark, used for making rope and baskets. The name means "to tie" or "to bind," possibly referring to the tree's bark used for weaving.
20. **Aalii:** A small tree with a variety of uses, including medicine and food. The name means "to sing" or "to chant," possibly referring to the tree's use in traditional ceremonies.
21. **Akia:** A tree with a hard wood, used for making tools and weapons. The name means "to cut" or "to carve," highlighting the tree's wood used for crafting.
22. **Alaheʻe:** A tree with fragrant flowers, used in lei-making. The name means "to smell" or "to scent," reflecting the tree's fragrant blossoms.
23. **Albizia saman:** A large, shade-providing tree, known for its expansive canopy. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
24. **Amygdalus communis:** A tree with a sweet, edible fruit, the almond. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
25. **Artocarpus altilis:** A fruit-bearing tree with a large, edible fruit, the breadfruit. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
26. **Bischofia javanica:** A large, shade-providing tree, known for its strong wood. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
27. **Calophyllum inophyllum:** A tree with a distinctive bark, used for making rope and baskets. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
28. **Cananga odorata:** A tree with fragrant flowers, used in perfumes and incense. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
29. **Casuarina equisetifolia:** A tree with a unique, needle-like foliage. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
30. **Ceiba pentandra:** A large, towering tree, known for its spreading canopy. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
31. **Citrus aurantium:** A citrus tree with sweet, edible fruits. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
32. **Citrus limon:** A citrus tree with tart, edible fruits. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
33. **Cocos nucifera:** A palm tree with a large, edible fruit, the coconut. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
34. **Cordyline fruticosa:** A tree with vibrant, colored leaves, used in landscaping. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
35. **Erythrina sandwicensis:** A tree with bright red flowers, a symbol of the Hawaiian islands. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
36. **Ficus benghalensis:** A large, shade-providing tree, known for its expansive canopy. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
37. **Ficus religiosa:** A tree with religious significance in Hinduism and Buddhism. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
38. **Hibiscus rosa-sinensis:** A tree with large, colorful flowers, a symbol of Hawaii. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
39. **Hibiscus tiliaceus:** A tree with a distinctive bark, used for making rope and baskets. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
40. **Jatropha curcas:** A tree with a variety of uses, including medicine and fuel. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
41. **Lagerstroemia speciosa:** A tree with vibrant, colorful flowers, used in landscaping. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
42. **Mangifera indica:** A fruit-bearing tree with a sweet, edible fruit, the mango. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
43. **Metrosideros polymorpha:** A tree with vibrant, red flowers, a symbol of Hawaii. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
44. **Morinda citrifolia:** A tree with a variety of uses, including medicine and food. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
45. **Musa paradisiaca:** A tree with a large, edible fruit, the banana. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
46. **Myoporum sandwicense:** A tree with a hard wood, used for making tools and weapons. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
47. **Pandanus tectorius:** A tree with a distinctive, spiky foliage. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
48. **Persea americana:** A fruit-bearing tree with a large, edible fruit, the avocado. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
49. **Pisonia grandis:** A tree with sticky fruits, used for catching fish. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
50. **Plumeria rubra:** A tree with fragrant flowers, used in lei-making. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
51. **Psidium guajava:** A tree with a sweet, edible fruit, the guava. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
52. **Santalum freycinetianum:** A tree with a fragrant wood, used for making perfumes and incense. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
53. **Spondias dulcis:** A tree with a sweet, edible fruit, the ambarella. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
54. **Syzygium malaccense:** A tree with a sweet, edible fruit, the Malay apple. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
55. **Tamarindus indica:** A tree with a sweet, edible fruit, the tamarind. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
56. **Terminalia catappa:** A large, shade-providing tree, known for its distinctive leaves. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
57. **Thespesia populnea:** A tree with a distinctive bark, used for making rope and baskets. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
58. **Tournefortia argentea:** A tree with a distinctive foliage, used in landscaping. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
59. **Vitex trifolia:** A tree with fragrant flowers, used in traditional medicine. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.
60. **Xylosma hawaiiense:** A tree with a variety of uses, including medicine and food. The name refers to the tree's scientific classification.