Hidden Histories: Wiliwili: Exploring the Cultural Significance and Evolving Pollination of a Native Hawaiian Tree

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In this talk, Grave will explore the ethnobotany and cultural uses of the endemic wiliwili (Erythrina sandwicensis), as well as its pollination biology and a bit of demographics. Wiliwili, a native Hawaiian tree, holds great significance for several reasons. Historically, Hawaiians have used its lightweight wood for making tools, surfboards, and canoes, while also utilizing the tree for medicinal purposes. From a pollination biology perspective, the tree’s vibrant, tubular flowers were originally adapted to attract native pollinators, particularly Hawaiian honeycreepers and certain bees, which played a crucial role in its reproduction. However, as these native pollinators have retreated to higher elevations, new pollination relationships have developed in the tree's lower, dry forest habitats. This evolving interaction between wiliwili and its pollinators underscores the critical need to preserve native ecosystems in order to protect both plant and animal populations in Hawaiʻi.

Biography: Emily Grave is the Senior Manager of Forestry Partnerships and Sourcing at Terraformation, where she leads efforts to promote sustainable forestry practices that help combat climate change. With a strong passion for conservation, Emily has focused her career on ecosystem restoration and building environmental partnerships worldwide. She earned a Master of Science in Botany and a Bachelor of Science in Ethnobotany from the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa, where she gained extensive knowledge in plant sciences and the ways in which people interact with plants.