Bobea elatior

Description:

Ahakea lau nuiRubiaceaeHawaiian endemic genusKalauao Trail, Koolau Mts., OahuEarly Hawaiians had many uses for ahakea. It was used for canoe (waa) construction, the hard yellowish or reddish wood of ahakea was the most favorite wood for making gunwales strakes (moo), the forward end piece (lau ihu), and the aft piece (lau hope). Canoe paddles were also made from ahakea 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 kui poi) were made from ahakea because its close grained wood. Ahakea, mixed with kukui nuts, was also used medicinally to help with abseces, burst sores (ili ph); scar, perhaps tuberculosis; (alaala); and itch, ulcer (meeau). The bark and leaves were boiled and used to bathe in.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Bobea_elatior