Olopua

Olopua, Nestegis sandwicensis (A. Gray) Degener, I., Degener & L. Johnson, is an endemic species of the family Oleaceae. It's a large tree, ranging in growth from 8 meters tall to 20 meters (60 feet) tall, with thick and corrugated bark. Olopua bears leaves that are pale underneath, darker on upper surface, lance-shaped to elliptic and narrow to oblong leaves and leather-like in texture. The leaves are variable in size: as small in Molokai specimens and exceedingly large and oblong acute-tipped in Kauai specimens.

The flower clusters consist of 7-11 hermaphroditic flowers, pale yellow, short, and tubular -shaped. The fruits formed are 12 to 22 mm long, ovoid in shape, a drupe (fleshy with a single seed) which is green when immature, becoming purplish to bluish black at maturity. The wood of olopua is very hard, close-grained and very durable. It has dark-brownish color with blackish streaks, very dense and heavy wood that takes excellent polish. The durable hardwood was formerly used for adzes and other tools and as a rasp in the manufacture of fish hooks. It was also used as firewood, as it burned with a hot flame even when green.

The Olopua, Nestegis sandwicensis (A. Gray) Degener, I., Degener & L. Johnson, is one of the most common Hawaiian native trees found growing in the lower forest zones, especially on the leeward side of all islands, from 200 to 1,300 meters elevation. It is an endemic species of the family Oleaceae.