Sapindus oahuensis or Sapindus saponaria

photo credit: Forest and Kim Starr

Best practices for survivability and field observations

Respondents note that generally lonomea and manele can make a good long-living green break. Both require water to become established, but are relatively drought tolerant and “can handle weeds.” Manele is only at higher elevations in Hawai‘i, although one respondent notes that they had very good results lower down in a small farm in South Kona at 2000 ft elevation as did another. Another says that it does not form a dense canopy in sandy soil. One notes that lonomea is “great for out planting,” that “once established, it’s a great tree” (example: Pohole and at Keawa’ula, West O‘ahu, close to the ocean). Another notes that their large manele trees produce lots of leaf litter. They are not on irrigation nor have they been “tended to” in over 7 years.

Stressors and pests

Some respondents say lonomea is relatively trouble free, “a bomb proof option” which can handle significant pest infestations, and seems more drought tolerant than manele. Cattle, goats and deer will eat manele seedlings and younger plants.

Availability and propagation

Island specific species that should only be used on Kaua’i and O’ahu (lonomea) and Hawai’i (manele). For example, lonomea is not widely available on Maui (as it is not native to Maui) and not as fast growing as other trees, although the seeds germinate readily. One respondent reported trying lonomea from cuttings (which didn’t work). Manele can be easily propagated from seed and cuttings.

Survey Results

For information about the survey, refer to our article: on Coastal Plants for Creating Green Breaks