Family: Calophyllaceae
Kamani (Calophyllum inophyllum) is a handsome tree with glossy green leaves, an upright growth habit, and clusters of beautiful white flowers that smell like orange blossoms. There are several ‘exceptional trees’ in Hawaii. It is sometimes placed in the Clusiaceae family. Kamani can grow up to 650 feet in elevation and thrives in the hot sun, making it an ideal tree for providing shade in parks and open spaces. Despite its reported intrusive roots, it is often used as a street tree in tropical cities throughout the tropics. It’s important not to confuse it with Terminalia catappa, an invasive tree in lowland areas, especially near the ocean. Kamani has a broad native range from Eastern Africa, Southeast India, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, the Marianas, Australia, and much of Polynesia, indicating its adaptability to various climates and soil conditions.
When the Polynesians sailed to Hawaii, they brought with them the versatile Kamani tree. The sweetly scented flowers were used to scent kapa. The beautiful heartwood, with its unique properties, was crafted into food vessels. The nuts, versatile in their use, were made into whistles, used in lei, and as a brown dye for kapa. The oil, with its medicinal properties, was used for skin conditions, in lamps, and as a waterproofing agent. The doors of the main floor of Iolani Palace in Honolulu, a testament to the tree’s durability, have panels of Kamani veneer.
Plant Uses:
- Cultural significance
- Edible
- Erosion control
- Medicinal
- Ornamental
- Privacy / screening
- Shade
- Windbreak
- Woodworking
Plant Dangers:
- No dangers