ʻŌhiʻa ʻAi Photograph by Heidi Fickinger
ʻō.hiʻa ʻai
n. The mountain apple (Eugenia malaccensis), a forest tree to 15 m high, found on many islands of the Pacific. It belongs to the myrtle family, has large oval leaves, tufted flowers growing from trunk and branches, and cerise, apple-like fruits. Formerly Hawaiians prepared the fruit, splitting and drying it in the sun. (Neal 636.) Lit., edible ʻōhia. ʻŌhiʻa noho i ka malu, ʻōhiʻa staying in the shade [of flawless beauty; this tree grows in forests].
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