Mānoa Heritage Center

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‘Ohe makai

Polyscias sandwicensis

Endemic

Translated this plant means ʻbamboo near the seaʻ. It finds home in lowland to occasionally mesic forest area and is a rare sight today. ‘Ohe makai belongs to the ginseng family, along with Polyscias racemosa (formerly known as Munroidendron), ‘Ohe mauka, ‘Olapa, and the non-native Octopus tree.

One of its other names shares how the wood was made into stilts (kukulu-ae‘o).

other names: ‘Ohe kukuluae‘o, ‘Ohekai, ‘Ohe‘ohe (Ni‘ihau)