Kauila

'''Kauila''' or '''Kauwila''' refers to two species of trees in the [[buckthorn]] family, [[Rhamnaceae]], that are [[Endemism|endemic]] to [[Hawaii|Hawai{{okina}}i]]: ''[[Alphitonia ponderosa]]'' and ''[[Colubrina]] [[Colubrina oppositifolia|oppositifolia]]''. Both species of wood are found distributed throughout the islands of Hawai'i; however, ''A. ponderosa'' was found on [[Kauaʻi|Kaua'i]], [[Oʻahu|O'ahu]], [[Molokaʻi|Moloka'i]], [[Maui]], and [[Hawaiʻi (island)|Hawai'i]],{{Cite web |title=Native Plants Hawaii - Viewing Plant : Alphitonia ponderosa |url=http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Alphitonia_ponderosa/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=nativeplants.hawaii.edu}} whereas ''C. oppositifolia'' was found only on Maui, O'ahu, and Hawai'i.{{Cite web |title=Native Plants Hawaii - Viewing Plant : Colubrina oppositifolia |url=http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Colubrina_oppositifolia/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=nativeplants.hawaii.edu}} The trees vary in size, with ''A. ponderosa'' reaching heights greater than 50ft while ''C. oppositifolia'' reaching 50ft or less. Likewise, the leaves of the trees are both different in appearance. ''A. ponderosa'' sprouts a dark-greenish color and a light yellow colored vein in each leaf, and ''C. oppositiofolia'' grows a medium-green color leaf where the vein is a rusty orange/brown. The wood itself was prized for being extremely hard that it was often a substitute for metal, being so dense that it sinks in water. Although, ''C. oppositifolia'' was stated to be much tougher compared to its sister species.''{{Cite web |title=Native Plants Hawaii - Viewing Plant : Colubrina oppositifolia |url=http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Colubrina_oppositifolia/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=nativeplants.hawaii.edu}}'' Though the rigid sturdiness varied between the species of wood, they were both prioritized in the making of tools, miscellaneous accessories, and crockeries.{{Cite web |title=Kauila |url=https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/rare-plants/species/kauila/ |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=dlnr.hawaii.gov |language=en}} Both occur in [[Hawaiian tropical dry forests|dry]] to mesic forest and are now rare; ''C. oppositifolia'' is listed as Endangered and ''A. ponderosa'' is listed as vulnerable.

'''Kauila''' or '''Kauwila''' refers to two species of trees in the [[buckthorn]] family, [[Rhamnaceae]], that are [[Endemism|endemic]] to [[Hawaii|Hawai{{okina}}i]]: ''[[Alphitonia ponderosa]]'' and ''[[Colubrina]] [[Colubrina oppositifolia|oppositifolia]]''. Both species of wood are found distributed throughout the islands of Hawai'i; however, ''A. ponderosa'' was found on [[Kauaʻi|Kaua'i]], [[Oʻahu|O'ahu]], [[Molokaʻi|Moloka'i]], [[Maui]], and [[Hawaiʻi (island)|Hawai'i]],{{Cite web |title=Native Plants Hawaii - Viewing Plant : Alphitonia ponderosa |url=http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Alphitonia_ponderosa/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=nativeplants.hawaii.edu}} whereas ''C. oppositifolia'' was found only on Maui, O'ahu, and Hawai'i.{{Cite web |title=Native Plants Hawaii - Viewing Plant : Colubrina oppositifolia |url=http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Colubrina_oppositifolia/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=nativeplants.hawaii.edu}} The trees vary in size, with ''A. ponderosa'' reaching heights greater than 50ft while ''C. oppositifolia'' reaching 50ft or less. Likewise, the leaves of the trees are both different in appearance. ''A. ponderosa'' sprouts a dark-greenish color and a light yellow colored vein in each leaf, and ''C. oppositiofolia'' grows a medium-green color leaf where the vein is a rusty orange/brown. The wood itself was prized for being extremely hard that it was often a substitute for metal, being so dense that it sinks in water. Although, ''C. oppositifolia'' was stated to be much tougher compared to its sister species.''{{Cite web |title=Native Plants Hawaii - Viewing Plant : Colubrina oppositifolia |url=http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Colubrina_oppositifolia/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=nativeplants.hawaii.edu}}'' Though the rigid sturdiness varied between the species of wood, they were both prioritized in the making of tools, miscellaneous accessories, and crockeries.{{Cite web |title=Kauila |url=https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/rare-plants/species/kauila/ |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=dlnr.hawaii.gov |language=en}} Both occur in [[Hawaiian tropical dry forests|dry]] to mesic forest, and due to invasive weeds and animals that consume the plants, the Kauila trees are now rare; ''C. oppositifolia'' is listed as critically endangered{{Cite web |title=Kauila |url=https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/rare-plants/species/kauila/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=dlnr.hawaii.gov |language=en}} and ''A. ponderosa'' is listed as vulnerable.{{Cite web |title=IUCN Red List |url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/es/species/44076/10848537 |access-date=2026-04-23}}

[[File:Starr 050407-6267 Colubrina oppositifolia.jpg|thumb|Leaves of a ''Colubrina oppositifolia'' tree. ]]

[[File:Starr 050407-6267 Colubrina oppositifolia.jpg|thumb|Leaves of a ''Colubrina oppositifolia'' tree. ]]

[[File:Starr 040731-0062 Alphitonia ponderosa.jpg|thumb|Leaves of an ''Alphitonia ponderosa'' tree.]]

[[File:Starr 040731-0062 Alphitonia ponderosa.jpg|thumb|Leaves of an ''Alphitonia ponderosa'' tree.]]