Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_calophyllum_inophyllum
Kamani
Calophyllum inophyllum
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About Kamani
Kamani (Calophyllum inophyllum) is a Polynesian-introduced tree documented on Kauaʻi as a Polynesian introduction by Bishop Museum’s 2025 checklist, with island presence corroborated by the 2026 Smithsonian checklist. Current extent is unassessed. Native across the Indian Ocean region and tropical to subtropical Asia through northern Australia and the Pacific. Flora and forestry treatments place it primarily on rocky and sandy seashores just above high tide, where it tolerates salt spray and sandy or coralline soils, while planted trees also persist inland. These broad native-range tolerances do not specify a fine location on Kauaʻi.
Kauaʻi evidence
Taxonomic identity, tree form, diagnostic morphology and island occurrence use the linked reviewed sources. Historical planting, cultivation, naturalization and invasive status are separate. Generated imagery is not occurrence evidence. The 1918–1959 Kauaʻi reforestation working register records 308 plants under Calophyllum inophyllum across 3 entries dated 1927–1943. These are recorded planting quantities, not counts of surviving trees, and they do not by themselves establish current persistence, naturalization, or ecological impact. Source: Kauaʻi Reforestation Plantings 1918–1959 working register (user-supplied; reconciled 6 October 2026).
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Calophyllum inophyllum
- Common names
- Kamani · tamanu · beach calophyllum · beautyleaf
- Other names
- Calophyllum inophyllum · kamani · tamanu · beach calophyllum · beautyleaf · Balsamaria inophyllum
- Record type
- Species
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Recorded on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Polynesian introduction
- Conservation status
- Not yet assessed
- Evidence date
- 2026-10-06
- Evidence limits
- Current extent is unassessed; public locality is island level only.
Habitat and ecology
- Habitats
- Not yet assessed
- Food and resource needs
- Not yet assessed
- Reproduction
- Not yet assessed
- Shelter
- Not yet assessed
- Growth form
- Evergreen coastal tree
Threats and conservation
- Monitoring
- Not yet assessed
- Data gaps
- Current population extent and trajectory · Additional species-specific ecological and conservation sources
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not yet assessed
- Seasonal description
- Kamani (Calophyllum inophyllum) is a Polynesian-introduced tree documented on Kauaʻi as a Polynesian introduction by Bishop Museum’s 2025 checklist, with island presence corroborated by the 2026 Smithsonian checklist. Current extent is unassessed. Native across the Indian Ocean region and tropical to subtropical Asia through northern Australia and the Pacific. Flora and forestry treatments place it primarily on rocky and sandy seashores just above high tide, where it tolerates salt spray and sandy or coralline soils, while planted trees also persist inland. These broad native-range tolerances do not specify a fine location on Kauaʻi.
Sources and further reading
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:427190-1
- https://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200014165
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/psw/publications/allen/psw_2002_allen002.pdf
- https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Calophyllum_inophyllum.PDF
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:427190-1/general-information
- https://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/publications/pdf/tr75.pdf
- https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/47617.pdf
- https://doi.org/10.5479/si.32124043