Derisive nickname belies naio’s value

Naio (Myoporum sandwicense) has the notorious nickname of "bastard sandalwood," which sometimes is softened by the more innocuous label "false sandalwood."

The cured or burned wood of naio is fragrant like ili­ahi (sandalwood). During the 19th century, due to the devastating overharvesting of ili­ahi, naio became an illicit substitute for sandalwood export. Foreign importers renounced this product hoax, and the disparaging nickname evolved.

Naio, also naieo and naeo, does not deserve this repercussion of human avarice. It grows on all the major Hawaiian Islands, from sea level to about 7,800 feet. It prospers in divergent habitats, such as shoreline strands, aa lava fields and dry, mesic, wet and subalpine forests. On Oahu a distinctive variety of naio, carpeted with compact, compressed tan hairs, grows on the Ewa coral plains of Kalaeloa.

The plant can be a shallow, broad spreading shrub or an erect, multibranched, modest tree. The lightly fleshy, dark-green leaves are alternating on the stem and surfaced with glandular spots. The gray-black bark is acutely furrowed. Sapwood is pale brown and heartwood is dark yellowish-brown.

The white to pinkish bell-shaped flowers are clustered in the leaf axils. Blossoms bloom year-round. Small, roundish fruit, when matured, produce spindle-shaped seeds.

Our endangered native bird, the palila (Loxioides bailleui), clings to survival in an arid, subalpine woodland of naio and mamane (Sophora chrysophylla) on the central plateau of Mauna Kea on Hawaii island. This fragile habitat is assaulted by threats including fire, erosion and destructive predation by feral ungulates, or hoofed animals.

Early Hawaiians would combine the leaf buds, leaves and fruits of naio with other botanicals as herbal medicine.

Naio wood was called aaka. Large, durable timbers of naio were traditionally used for hale (house) frame posts. The smaller branches were arranged as rafters along the roof length to bind thatching matter like pili grass (Heteropogon contortus). Naio burned long, serving as light for lama­lama (torch fishing).

Haha ka upena (fishnet gauge) was constructed from naio. Hawaiians also carved from this wood manu (ornamental, elliptical expansions at the upper ends of the bow and stern endpieces) and pale (gunwales) for waa (canoe).

Modern-day woodworkers artistically reincarnate naio into furniture, flooring and craft pieces.

Naio also offers exciting possibilities for our "green" world. Scientific studies have indicated that naio exhibits soil bioremediation attributes by disintegrating and eliminating petroleum-based elements in the earth.

Since naio is tolerant of salt spray, wind and drought, it locates naturally into our island landscape.

With a rich cultural heritage, a native plant like naio should never be linked with such a derisive nickname.

Duane Choy is a native Hawaiian plant specialist. Reach him at HanaHou@ecologyfund.net.