Mahoe, Alectryon macrococcus var. micrococcus (Hawaiian Islands) and Alectryon macrococcus var. auwahiensis (Maui Island) also known as Ala Alahua, are scarce (endangered), evergreen, equatorial, slow growing, comparatively long-lived nut bearing trees found only in isolated damp forested regions.


Both species are members of the Sapindaceae (Soapberry) family. They differ from each other only in that the lower leaflet surface as Alectryon macrococcus var. auwahiensis has a deep rust-colored coating.

The mahoe is a small tree that gets to a height of 4 to 10 meters. Leaves are shiny, compound, with 2-5 pair of oval leaflets. Flowers are small set up in clusters and switch color during the day from yellow to red. The fruit is large, smooth, and hangs in bundles. Fruit will break when ready, exhibiting the shiny surface of the chestnut-brown orbicular nuts.

Both the scarlet-colored flesh of the fruit and the nuts (seeds) of the mahoe supplied food for the early Hawaiians, as both have gentle but slightly sweet flavors. Regrettably, the introduced black twig borer and imported rats are presently a great threat to the continued survival of the species, as fruit and seeds are eaten prior to them having a chance to germinate.

Mahoe, Ala Alahua, alectryon micrococcus var. micrococcus, Alectryon macrococcus var. auwahiensis

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