At once thought to be near extinction 'Iliahi, also known as sandalwood, can be found in the drier forest and woodland communities. It can appear as a sprawling shrub to a small multi-stemmed bushy tree. In 3-4 years under good conditions it will flower and fruit throughout the year with two peak seasons. The flowers also produce a sweet fragrance.

'Iliahi literally means "fire bark" and is the wood that Maui used to rub together to make fire. Ancient Hawaiians had several medicinal uses that included the leaves and bark for dandruff to severe sores. The heartwood, in which the scent of sandalwood is confined, was powdered and sprinkled on kapa cloth. The wood was also used for musical instruments. From the late 1700s to the early 1800s, harvesting of sandalwood to export to China depleted the many forests of 'iliahi once abundant in the islands.