Question: Are wiliwili trees currently found on all of the Hawaiian Islands? — Erin Lee, Waimea, Hawaii island

Answer: Yes, as far as I know. Recently I saw some pictures of them blooming happily on Kahoolawe, thanks to reclaiming that island after years of military bombardment training with unexploded ordinance cleanup, feral goat removal and multiple restoration efforts.

Also, I know they grow on Niihau. Makana Kaohelaulii, who we apprenticed under at National Tropical Botanical Garden (originally the Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden), told me a story about how he found an old wiliwili log and shaped himself a surfboard from the buoyant soft wood. He didn’t say so, but he was one of best surfers on Niihau. Later he moved across the channel to Kauai and worked in the gardens for many years.

Wiliwili, or Erythrina sandwicensis, is one of the prime flowering trees of Hawaii dryland forests. It is a beautiful and well-adapted tree that survives and thrives in wet or dry times.

In a normal year, the trees put out lush foliage in the wet times (winter). In hot, dry climate of summer, they drop their leaves. The leaves first turn yellow as the nutrients are sucked back into the tree for recycling. Then the leaves drop and buds and flowers appear. Without leaves, it might make it easier for bird pollinators to find and pollinate them.

The name wiliwili means really twisty, and it refers to the seed pods; they twist open when ripe and reveal the bright orange or red (or rarely yellow) seeds. Birds see red very well and are attracted to this color because it often means a yummy fruit to eat.

This is how the seeds are naturally spread.

Wiliwili are super fun to grow from seeds. They are in bean family Fabaceae, and sprout quickly if you scarify or nick the seed coat first.

A 24-hour warm water soak after nicking the seed coat will also enhance germination. Grow it until it’s strong and big enough to be planted in the ground.

As a planter and nurturer of trees, especially native Hawaiian trees, I love the seeds for their potential to replant and restore our Hawaiian forests, and for people to grow in their gardens. (This is a great tree for a lei crafter’s garden. Lei makers like to use the flowers and especially the seeds in their creations.)

Every tree that we plant and care for is a help in cooling our islands and our planet. Native Hawaiian and useful trees are great because people have extra reasons to nurture and tend to them.

A tree is a natural “machine” that recycles carbon dioxide and returns oxygen to the air. As tree roots suck up water and send it to their leaves, they release water vapor too. The shade of trees cools the ground and air around it. When big storms come, trees slow down the water and lessen the splash (and soil runoff).

We need to all work together to reverse the climate change. So, let’s plant a tree or two, and may I suggest wiliwili?

Heidi Bornhorst is a sustainable landscape consultant specializing in native, xeric and edible gardens. Reach her at heidibornhorst@gmail.com.