ʻŌhiʻa ʻai (Mountain Apple)

Syzygium malaccense

Polynesian Introduction

The fruit has pure white crisp flesh. In spring, pom pom-like flowers on short stems appear on the trunk and branches. Bark used to make brown dye; fruit skin makes red dye. The fruit is delicious and a favorite of Hawaiians. The tree produces a dense wood, used for carving large wooden images, known as kiʻi. The bark was used medicinally for infections.