The H'oawa can be found as a bush, or as a small tree that can grow up to 25 feet. It is a relatively slow grower and likes full sun. It can also tolerate a wide range of soil and requires moderate watering. The leaves are oblong and rough to the touch and vary in sizes from 3.5 to 10 inches. Small cream white flowers bloom that are fragrant in the evening. The fruit is walnut shaped and opens to show its bright orange flesh and about 40-50 sticky black seeds.

Early Hawaiians used the flesh of the fruit plant to make a medicine for swollen necks (a'i pahaha). The wood could be used for fire but also used to make the gunwale of a canoe.