Wiliwili Fabaceae Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands Koko Crater (Kohelepelepe), Oʻahu  The lightweight wiliwili wood was the preferred choice for surfboards (papa heʻe nalu) by early Hawaiians. The wood was either for long boards (alaia) or short boards (olo). Since larger trees may have been difficult to find to be suitable for the surfboards, they were probably reserved for the nobility, including the chiefs (aliʻi).  Because the wood was light, it was used for fishing gear containers and would float if a canoe was upset. The wood was also used for net floats and on the canoes (waʻa) for the outrigger float (ama).  Earlier Hawaiians believed that when wiliwili were flowering along the coast, sharks were most likely to bite.  Flowers were used for venereal diseases and the pounded bark for various genital diseases. The bark was beaten with water and regularly drunk as a medicine [for unknown causes].  The seeds were used by early Hawaiians to make permanent lei and the flowers for temporary lei.   nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Erythrina_sandwicensis