A'ali'i, or Dodonaea Viscosas Description A shrub or tree from 1 to 30 feet high. Leaves are short-stemmed, narrow, and pointed at the tips. Flowers are in small clusters at the tips of the branches. The fruit is a yellow, red, or brown, about 0.5 inch long. Its papery capsules turn red or lavender and sometimes yellow and pink. The wood is hard and yellow brown in color. A'ali'i is a wonderful native species for landscaping. It does well with full sunlight and a small amount of moisture. The blossoms of the A'ali'i are used in lei making and to wear in the hair. A hardy plant, the Hawaiian people in Kau, on the island of Hawaii say, " I am an 'Aali'i shrub, no wind can push me over." Habitat In Hawaii ,it is a shrub or small tree that grows in coastal areas as well as dry, wet forests. It grows on all islands except Kaho'olawe. It is native to many tropical areas outside of Hawaii.

Propogation Placing the seeds in a bleach solution and soaking overnight allows the sprouting to occur within a few days to a few weeks.		The Hawaiians used the A'ali'i's colorful seed capsules to produce dye for kapa. They also used the wood to build frames for their houses and for spears and other weapons. Today the capsules are used for leis.