KUKUI … GROWING UP IN HAWAII

In 1959 the Kukui tree became the official state tree of Hawaii. It takes its botanical name, aleurites moluccana, from the Greek for “floury,” a reference to the white-dusted green of its leaves.

From the ground, its leaves are turned a translucent green by the overhead sun in a leafy canopy of stained-glass hues. Kukui trees mainly grow on the lower slopes of the mountain in gulches. The tallest Kukui groves with trees of eighty to ninety feet are spectacular. Wherever Kukui grows, its distinctive silver foliage is its signature.

At the end of the branches small greenish-tinged white flowers bloom. These flowers, along with the trees distinctive leaves, are often seen entwined in leis.

The fruit of the Kukui is about 2-inches in diameter. The outer part of the fruit is a hard green covering about 1/4-inch thick when immature and as it matures it turns a dark grayish-black and softens. This portion of the fruit decays rapidly after it falls to the ground. Enclosed within are one or two hard, stone like, wrinkled nuts. When young the shell of the nut is whitish, but as it matures it turns brown, then black.

Nuts that remain in the damp soil will sprout. After shedding their shell a small plant takes root. It takes only a few months for it to start Growing Up In Hawaii!