It’s a Mountain Apple, a Rose Apple, a Malay Apple….No, it’s an Ohi’a ‘ai!

Early in summertime in the wet parts of the Hawaiian Islands, you will see trees covered with pink fuzzy flowers. This is the Ohi’a ‘ai, also known as the Hawaiian apple, rose apple, Malay apple, Hawaiian apple, water apple, or mountain apple. And the flowers cover everything, even some of the woody trunk. Whatever you call it, go back to that tree a few months later and shiny red fruits will be covered it, later to fall down ripe.

Top pic: CC from Flickr, Forest and Kim Starr. This one: CC from Wikipedia, botlbn.

The Ohi’a ‘ai is native to Southeast Asia and was originally brought to Hawaii by Malay people who settled there. The plantation culture wove together the traditions of many Asian and island peoples who settled in Hawaii. Ohi’a ‘ai quickly became a favorite fruit. It is in the myrtle family with guava.

Even though it is less tasty than some fruits, the Ohi’a ‘ai tree is beloved for its beauty. Its production is the stuff of legend. And it is a strong community fruit. Do you know why? Because its fruits ripen all at once and there are many of them. So people must give them away to neighbors if they are to be enjoyed!

CC Wikipedia, Yakovlev.alexey

CC Wikipedia, justinisaacs

The Ohi’a ‘ai fruit has a thin skin and bruises easily. It has the shape of a pear and tastes rather as a crunchy pear also. There are pits inside like date pits and do not try to eat them.

What do Hawaiian people do with Ohi’a ‘ai? Eat them! But one cannot eat so many of these fruits in the few days they are available. The older people and industrious young ones cook them with ginger and sugar. That makes a pretty good jam.

If you are on the Big Island you can enjoy a rare treat, which is Ohi'a Lehua honey, made from the blossoms of a related tree in the Myrtle family. This tree has flowers that are red or golden and it is the island's official flower.