Species

These are all the species planted in our functional forest so far. Hover over the image for the name of the plant and a brief description. For a more detailed description you can download our plant list here. The list contains scientific names, range, sun and water needs, size and growth habit, uses in traditional Hawaiʻian culture and current uses today. Pono Acres is on the rainy, windward side of Hawaiʻi Island, at an elevation of 360 feet. Any plant listed here will grow well in elevations below 500 feet with high rainfall. Refer to the online database for more information on Hawaiʻi native plants that will grow best in your area. If you like a particular plant, please feel free to experiment! I have a fruiting apple tree growing in a tropical climate with no chill days, so it never hurts to try!

ʻAʻaliʻi: Indigenous shrub to 4' with attractive burgundy flowers.

'Ae'ae: Indigenous succulent with tiny purple flowers, salt tolerant, erosion control on waterways.

ʻĀhinahina/Hawaiiʻan Wormwood: Endemic shrub to 10' with fragrant leaves, repels insects, medicinal for lungs, fever.

'Åkia: Endemic shrub with crawling habit, attractive yellow flowers, erosion control.

ʻAkiohala: Indigenous shrub to 12', beautiful purple flowers.

ʻĀkukikuli/Seaside Purslane: Indigenous, ground cover, salt tolerant, erosion control, edible, medicinal antifungal/bacterial

Alaheʻe: Indigenous tree to 30' with fragrant clusters of white flowers.

Avocado: Introduced tree to 80' with creamy, nutty tasting fruit, many varieties, pruned to manage under cultivation.

ʻAwa/Kava: Polynesian introduced shrub to 12', roots used ceremonially and medicinally, improves mood, sleep, anti-anxiety.

Hala: Indigenous tree to 20', edible fruit used as paint brush, leaves woven into mats, baskets, thatching.

Hapuʻu: Endemic tree fern, important understory forest plant, edible root, frond hairs used to stuff bedding.

Hōʻawa: Endemic tree up to 30',fragrant flowers, fruit favorite food of ʻAlala/Hawaiʻian crow, wood for fuel, canoes.

ʻilima: Indigenous shrub to 4', prostrate version, both with attractive yellow flowers, ground cover, erosion control.

Kalo/Taro: Polynesian introduced with edible corm and leaf, cooked to neutralize itchy crystals, corm pounded to make poi.

Kamanamana: Indigenous shrub up to 2', medicinal for inflammation, congestion.

Kamani: Polynesian introduced tree up to 80' with fragrant flowers, wood used for bowls, canoes, oil used for massage.

Kokiʻo keʻokeʻo: Endemic hibiscus, beautiful white flowers with red pistils.

Kokiʻo ʻula: Endemic hibiscus with beautiful red flowers.

Koʻokoʻolau: Endemic shrub to 4', coveredwith bright yellow flowers, medical for blood pressure, arthritis.

Kōpiko: Endemic tree up to 45', white flowers, orange fruit eaten by Oma'o/Hawai'ian Thrush and other native birds.

Kokui: Polynesian introduced tree to 80', nut used for lei, oil for lighting, medicinal for skin, wood used for canoes.

Lama: Endemic tree to 35', edible persimmon-like fruit, wood used make sacred objects.

Macadamia: Introduced tree to 50', edible nut, pruned to manage under cultivation.

Maiʻa/Banana: Polynesian introduced, up to 25', fruit eaten raw/ripe, cooked/unripe as starch. Dwarf varieties often grown.

Maile: Endemic vine with fragrant leaves used in lei for special occasions.

Māmaki: Endemic tree to 20', medical for inflammation, infection, mood, energy, metabolism.

Mango: Introduce tree up to 100', delicious sweet fruit, wood used for furniture, pruned to manage in cultivation.

Maʻo hau hele: Endangered endemic hibiscus with beautiful yellow flowers.

Milo: Indigenous tree to 40', wood used for bowls, plates, utensils, does not affect taste of food.

Nanea: Indigenous vine, edible pod, nitrogen fixing, can be used as ground cover, can become invasive if not controlled.

Naʻu/Hawaiʻian Gardenia: Shrub to 16ʻ, fragrant flowers, wood used for tools.

Naupaka kahakai: Indigenous shrub up to 8', salt tolerant, erosion control, medical for cuts/rash/stings, sunblock.

Niʻu/Coconut: Polynesian introduced tree up to 100', edible nut, wood/fronds used for construction, tools, utensils, weaving.

Noni: Polynesian introduced tree up to 30', medical fruited as general tonic.

ʻŌhia ʻai/Mountain Apple: Polynesian introduced tree with sweet, crunchy fruit resembling an apple.

ʻŌhia lehua: Endemic, sacred foundational tree of native forest, flowers/leaves used in lei, haku, fighting fungal disease.

Pia/Arrowroot: Polynesian introduced, clumping ground cover to 4', ground root used as thickener, medicinal for nausea.

Pōhinahina: Indigenous ground cover to 3', purple flowers, erosion control, sage-like scent, medicinal for stomach/head pain.

ʻUhaloa: Indigenous shrub up to 4', medical for inflammation, fungus, throat/lung ailments.

Ukiʻuki: Indigenous lily-like ground cover with purple flowers and berries.

ʻŪleʻi: Endemic shrub to 10', often prostrate habit, fragrant white flowers, erosion control, flexible wood used for nets.

Ulu/Breadfruit: Polynesian introduced tree up to 80', nutritious starchy fruit, pruned to mange in cultivation.

Species

Pono *Acres

The Pono ACRES demonstration project was funded by by a Sustainable Agriculture Research and Development (SARE) grant.