Rank Species | Genus Sapindus Higher classification Soapberries | |
 | ||
Similar Soapberries, Sapindaceae, Alectryon macrococcus, Diospyros sandwicensis, Nestegis sandwicensis | ||
Sapindus oahuensis is a species of tree in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is limited to Kauaʻi (Waimea Canyon) and Oʻahu (Waiʻanae and Koʻolau Ranges). Its common names include Āulu, Oahu soapberry, alulu, kaulu, and lonomea.
It can be found in dry and moist forest habitat at elevations of 200 to 2000 feet.
Āulu grows up to 18 m (59 ft) tall with a trunk diameter of 0.5 m (1.6 ft). It has alternately arranged, hairless leaves which have simple blades, unlike its congener, the wingless soapberry (S. saponaria), which has compound leaves. The leaves are somewhat thick and green with a yellow midvein. They are up to 15 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a panicle of many greenish yellow, bell-shaped male and female flowers. The fruit is a shiny, leathery berry roughly 2 centimeters long, containing one large black seed.
The seeds were strung and used in leis.
