Iliahi Collared Tee
The name iliahi identifies four species found only in Hawaii: Santalum paniculatum (Hawaii), S. haleakalae (Maui), S.freycinetianum (Oahu, Molokai, and varieties on Lanai and Kauai), and S. ellipticum (all main islands and Kauo,a.k.a. Laysan). All but S. ellipticum possess a deeply fragrant heartwood used by Hawaiians to scent kapa cloth, make medicine, and sometimes to construct a musical instrument called ukeke. In the late 18th and early 19th century, this laau ala (fragrant wood) was highly desired by the Chinese and became a major commodity. The story of the sandalwood trade in Hawai_i is famous for its impacts on the people and the forests. Kamehameha I placed a kapu on the cutting of young trees and had a desire to manage the resource for the coming generations. However, large debts accumulated in his and other chiefs’ dealings with American traders who knowingly inflated the prices of items for which pay in sandalwood was promised. A fact maybe less well know is that Kamehameha had the first flag representing the Hawaiian islands created so that the vessel carrying the very first shipment of wood to Canton could fly the flag of the port whose goods it contained. During the reign of Kamehameha II, increasing debt in combination with a lifting of the kapu mentioned earlier resulted in a near wholesale loss of sandalwood forests. Today, iliahi species face formidable challenges to survival: their dryforest homes (excluding S. paniculatum, a wet forest species) are extremely rare habitats and rats are quick to scarf up their big delectable seeds. Still, biologists and others committed to seeing these species flourish once again continue to propagate them and try to protect the areas where wild individuals still exist. Koili waianuhea i ka wai ula iliahi – Your skin made cool and fragrant by the wai ula iliahi (a famous water of Waimea, Kauai).
• 100% organic cotton
• eco-friendly materials & dye methods
• designed in Hawaii
• made in the USA
$35.00