DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
- very scattered small tree in Ni`aulani growing below to slightly above the tree fern canopy
- leaves shiny, with forward pointing teeth
- leaves usually with red veins and leaf stem; alternately attached on the branches which are often red
TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN USES
- used as a fire stick. A pointed stick of the hardwood of olomea rubbed in a groove or depression of a softer wood, such as hau, to ignite particles of the softwood
RAIN FOREST ECOLOGY
- olomea is the most uncommon subcanopy native tree species in Ni`aulani
- presence of olomea an indicator of the history of forest protection at Ni`aulani; very rare in more disturbed surrounding forests in Volcano community
- for reasons unknown, olomea is the only native tree in Ni`aulani without seedlings; ginger removal initiated a pulse of seedlings, especially shade-tolerant subcanopy trees like olomea
HOW TO SAY “OLOMEA” IN HAWAIIAN
Hawaiian Rain Forest 