A member of the Caper family (Capparaceae), Capparis sandwichiana, known as Maiapilo or Pua Pilo in Hawaiian, is an endemic low-growing shrub with stems reaching 1 to 5 meters long. The green, fleshy, oval leaves are 2.4 to 6 centimeters long and 1.9 to 5 centimeters wide. The flowers are characteristically pea shaped, making them about 5 to 10 centimeters in diameter and consisting of a mass of long white stamens surrounded by 4 white petals. Its fragrant flowers open after sunset and by mid-morning fade to a pale pink as they mature. Flowering occurs year round but mostly during spring and summer months. The ripe fruit of Maiapilo is an oval orange berry about 5 to 6 centimeters long that resembles a green cucumber before ripening. The small reddish brown seeds are found in the smelly orange fruit pulp.
References
Wagner, Warren L., Darrel R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i. University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu.
Culliney, John L. and Koebele, Bruce P. 1999. A native Hawaiian garden: how to grow and care for island plants. University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu.
This plant record was written by John Steinhorst, NTBG
Maiapilo is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The native Hawaiian caper is a sprawling shrub found on cliffs, lava flows, emerged coral reefs, and in rocky gulches of coastal areas.
Maiapilo roughly translates to “stinky banana,” which accurately describes the stinky oblong fruits that turn yellowish orange and peel open to reveal the round seeds when mature.
As the only native member of the Capparaceae family in the Hawaiian Islands, Maiapilo is considered vulnerable to extinction. This species is threatened by non-native plants, goats, rats, fire, sea-level rise, and coastal development. Although the total population numbers in the thousands across its range, subpopulations are severely fragmented as suitable habitat continues to decline.
Reference
Bruegmann, M.M. & Caraway, V. 2003. Capparis sandwichiana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2003: e.T44123A10860956. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2003.RLTS.T44123A10860956.en.
Maiapilo was used in la’au lapa’au, or traditional Hawaiian medicine, to treat broken or fractured bones. The entire plant would be pounded, crushed, and applied to the joints of the nearby area, never directly on top of the injured area. Also, the milky sap of the plant would be mixed with other ingredients and used to treat boils on the skin.
Maiapilo is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and found in scattered locations on coral, basalt, or rocky soil along the coast or slightly inland on all of the main Hawaiian Islands and on Midway Atoll, Pearl and Hermes Atoll, and Laysan. The species inhabits coastal low shrublands and rocky shores at elevations from sea level to 99 m (325 feet).
Reference
Wagner, Warren L., Darrel R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i. University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu.
Although Maiapilo is considered a caper, there have not been any recognized accounts of its use in modern cooking. A close relative, Capparis spinosa, has been used for its salty pickled fruits and flower buds in culinary cuisine throughout the Mediterranean for many years.
Capparis sandwichiana is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. There are many occurrences still surviving on the islands of Kauai, Kaho`olawe, O`ahu, Ni`ihau, Moloka`i, Maui, Lana`i, and Hawai`i. This species is also found on the Northwestern Hawaiian islands of Midway Atoll, Pearl and Hermes Atoll, and Laysan. The total population number is still in the thousands, however a decline of at least 10% over the last ten years has been estimated. C. sandwichiana has been adversely affected by the many factors threatening most of the Hawaiian coastal and lowland plant taxa.
IUCN Status: Vulnerable (VU)
Reference
Bruegmann, M.M. & Caraway, V. 2003. Capparis sandwichiana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2003: e.T44123A10860956. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2003.RLTS.T44123A10860956.en.
Capparis sandwichiana is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. There are many occurrences still surviving on the islands of Kauai, Kaho`olawe, O`ahu, Ni`ihau, Moloka`i, Maui, Lana`i, and Hawai`i. This species is also found on the Northwestern Hawaiian islands of Midway Atoll, Pearl and Hermes Atoll, and Laysan. The total population number is still in the thousands, however a decline of at least 10% over the last ten years has been estimated. C. sandwichiana has been adversely affected by the many factors threatening most of the Hawaiian coastal and lowland plant taxa.
IUCN Status: Vulnerable (VU)
Reference
Bruegmann, M.M. & Caraway, V. 2003. Capparis sandwichiana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2003: e.T44123A10860956. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2003.RLTS.T44123A10860956.en.
Maiapilo can make a beautiful accent, ground cover, small hedge, or specimen plant for dry coastal coralline or lava gardens. Once established, Maiapilo can grow rapidly and is well worth cultivating efforts due to the large fragrant flowers that shimmer in the moonlight. Maiapilo is an excellent xeric landscape plant with minimal needs for water once established. The plant can tolerate a variety of conditions, withstanding heat, wind, salt spray, and drought-like conditions to grow in soils of sand, cinder, organic, and coral, with good drainage being its key requirement.
Reference
Lilleeng-Rosenberger, K.E. 2005. Growing Hawaii's Native Plants. A Simple Step-by-step Approach for Every Species. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu, pp. 116-117.
Research is currently taking place at NTBG to evaluate seed characteristics of Maiapilo for additional knowledge that will benefit conservation managers, horticulturists, and growers. Further studies are needed on general ecology, life history, population size, distribution trends, population genetics, and threats.
We currently have 67 herbarium specimens for Capparis sandwichiana in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.
