Horticultural Notes

5-15’ x 5-20’+          Kawau is Hawaii’s only native Holly, which grows into a large shrub or small tree. The oval shaped leaves are dark green and shiny above and pale green below. Flowers are small and white and in rounded clusters and are followed by green and then nearly black seeds.

The early Hawaiians made anvils for kapa making from the very hard whitish to yellow-white wood.[1]

[1] http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Ilex_anomala