HAWAIIAN NAIO

Naio is an extremely rare wood that only grows in Hawaii. It is a long lived tree that prefers very sunny, dry locations. Naio flowers are small and white with light pink to lavender centers and have a spicy sandalwood-like fragrance. There are three endemic species Myoporum stellatum in the Hawaiian Islands.

Early Hawaiians used the wood of Naio ('a'aka) for posts, rafters or purlins in homes (hale) and for netting needles. Naio is also known as bastard Sandalwood because it was used as a substitute during the height of the Sandalwood trade between Hawaii & China. The wood has closed pores and is fairly dense like Koa.