Olive tree

Around 1793 or 1794, Don Francisco de Paula Marin, began importing olives to Hawai'i for their fruit and oil. Hawaiʻi does have a non-edible endemic olive named Olopua. The Olive is cultivated in many places and considered naturalized in the Mediterranean and other countries.

Olive trees have gnarly, twisted grey trunks. They rarely exceeds 49' in height. The leaves are oblong, silver-green in color, firm, and measure about 4" long by 1 1/2 " wide.

Olive trees do flower in late spring with clusters of small, white, feathery flowers with a double stamen. The buds are located in the leaf axil. Fruit drupes are about 1" long. Olives are harvested in the green to purple stage.

In 2015, Maui Olive Oil in Kula, Maui began milling artisanal olive oil from its own groves expanding Hawaiʻi’s agricultural diversity.

Traditional Cultural and Medicinal Usages

• Wood- used for making spears and other weapons; house posts
• Oil used for cooking; as a carrier oil for herbal linaments
• Properties: antioxidant, may protect against cancer and osteoporosis, high in vitamin E