Alyxia oliviforis Gaud is a plant indigenous to the Islands of Hawaii. For centuries, leis have been made from the shiny fragrant leaves of maile (alyxia oliviforis Gaud) and are still popular today in a variety of ceremonies and dances. In addition to ceremonial use, it was also used medicinally.
The common name in Hawaii for this plant is Maile, and it is in the periwinkle family. It is a small trailing shrub that is usually found in the wet forests of Hawaii. Early Hawaiians recognized various forms of maile based on leaf size, shape, and fragrance, and even with the great variety of leaf shapes, they maintain their characteristic form. Since there is no difference in the flowers or fruit of this shrub, taxonomists have recognized all leaf forms as one species. Maile does well as an understory plant and grows easily with other native species. The small pinwheel-like flowers of this shrub can be white, orange, greenish-white, or yellow. Maile blooms in the fall and winter when fruiting also takes place. The dark purple fruit of this plant is shaped like olive and ooze a milky white sap when freshly picked.
Leis made from maile has been a tradition for centuries and one that continues to this very day. To make a lei the fragrant dark green leaves are left on the stem. The stem is stripped of bark which unleashes its vanilla-like fragrance and is tied together in knots. Maile is usually worn as an open-ended lei draped loosely around the shoulders. Possibly the oldest, and certainly one of the most popular leis, the maile lei is steeped in history and tradition. It is known as “The Royal Lei” because it was prized by ali‘i (Hawaiian royalty) and, today, it is given to denote honor and respect and used on many different occasions and in ceremonies.
Maile is associated with Laka, the goddess of hula, and was placed on Laka's alters in hula heiaus (temples). Many ancient chants celebrate its fragrance. In ancient times, maile was associated with courtship and marriage and during wedding ceremonies, the priest tied the hands of the bride and groom together with a strand of maile to symbolize their union.
Maile was also used as a peace offering after a battle. When peace was declared, the Chiefs would meet in a temple and weave a lei from maile to resolve their differences. When the lei was completed, peace was official.
Medicinal Uses
Maile was also used as a dermatological aid. An infusion of the pounded shrub was combined with several other plants and used in a sweat bath for yellow blotches on the skin.
Leaves are shiny and are fragrant when bruised or crushed. The flowers give off the same fragrance as the leaves, and stripped bark gives a sweet fragrance resembling vanilla. All parts of this plant contain coumarin which gives maile its pleasant scent.
Did You Know...
Maile's popularity has endured. In weddings, hand binding with maile leis is still popular. A maile lei is sometimes given as a sign of friendship and when dancing the hula, performers still wear maile lei in honor of their goddess. The maile leis of these performers are never given away.
Native birds such as the native thrush ʻōmaʻo (Myadestes spp.) eat the fruits, assisting in spreading maile throughout the native forests.
Different leaf forms of this shrub include maile haʻi wale (brittle maile); maile lau liʻi (small-leaved maile); maile lau liʻi liʻi (very small-leaved maile); maile lau nui (big-leaved maile); maile kaluhea (sweet maile); and maile pakaha (blunt-leaved maile).
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