pōpolo kū mai

Phytolacca sandwicensis is a non-woody plant which grows to a moderate height of over 3 feet tall and 10 feet across. The flowers which it produces range in color from dark pink, pink, to white typically. The flower is unique because it blooms on a spike of sorts known as inflorescence, which also bears the fruit of the plant. The fruit is typically dark purple in color. The pokeweed has green oval shaped leaves which can be either glabrous, meaning it has no fuzz or hairs, or they can be puberulent, meaning they have hair or fuzz.

Phytolacca sandwicensis is a terrestrial species endemic to the Hawaiian Islands of the Pacific Ocean. It is a rather rare plant to find in the wild. Hawai'i pokeweed can be found in open areas or stream beds within wet or mesic forests. It is capable of withstanding various elevation extremes ranging from around 300 feet above sea level to 6500 feet above sea level. Phytolacca sandwicensis requires a wet environment to survive with a moderate amount of sunlight exposure. It is capable of living in open areas with lots of light exposure, but for landscaping purposes it has been found that a limited amount of sunlight produces a more desirable color and shape. Hawai'i pokeweed also prefers to reside in a cinder or organic soil which is well drained.

Traditionally the plant was used by the native islanders as a dye for tattooing. They found that crushing the berries created a desirable purple colored dye.