<p>Maile
Apocynaceae
Indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands
Mānoa Valley, Oʻahu
</p><p>Maile was very much favored by early Hawaiians and all forms highly prized in lei making. Because new kapa (tapa) has a strange smell, scented plants such as maile and ʻiliahi (sandalwood) were stored in large calabashes with the kapa used for clothing and bedding. All parts of maile were used in steam baths to rid body odor.
</p><p>Today, maile is still used in lei making and given to individuals for special occasions such as graduations, weddings, and anniversaries.
</p><p>NPH00009
</p>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Alyxia_stellata">nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Alyxia_stellata</a>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/50823119@N08">David  Eickhoff</a> from Pearl City, Hawaii, USA
CC BY 2.0
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/5209990670/">Alyxia stellata</a>