A thorny Hump day story.
The Hawaiian mesquite tree (Kiawe) arrived in Honolulu in 1828 as carry on baggage of Alexis Bachelot, our first catholic priest. Kiawe means “Thorny tree” in Hawaiian.
The Kiawe provided shade, strong wood for construction, furniture, wood carving, for me it’s best for barbecuing.
As erosion attacks our reefs and beaches the blessed Kiawe tree is protecting the coast with its wide root structure.
They have a seperate male and female tree, the male having a most nasty needle pointed torn which can grow over 4” long, sharp enough to instantly puncture a rubber slippah leaving you screaming in pain.
Hawaiian storms come on like a heart attack, when a Kiawe gets knocked down its branches become roots and restart the tree’s life.
Aloha,
The Baldwins
