Division of Forestry and Wildlife: Native Ecosystems Protection & Management

Kauila of the Rhamnaceae (buckthorn) family, a tree 5 to 13 m (16 to 43 ft) tall, has opposite, stalked, oval, thin, pinnately veined, toothless leaves with glands on the lower surface. Ten to 12 hermaphroditic flowers are clustered at the end of a main stalk; each flower has a stalk which elongates in fruit. The somewhat spherical fruit is similar to a capsule and opens explosively when mature (“Kauila (Colubrina Oppositifolia),” n.d.). Kauila wood was used for many purposes including house beams, kapa beaters, fishing spears, netting needle or shuttle, javelins, spears, daggers, shark-tooth clubs, ‘o’o, guessing games pieces, ‘ukeke, repairing bowls, pestles, and amulets (“Kauila, Kauwila,” n.d.).