Hawaiian Sandalwood Reforestation Initiative in Hawaii 2020

Hawaiian name for Sandalwood is “iliahi.”

Sandalwood has always been a favorite and enjoyable fragrance used in spa treatments, beauty and skin care products. It's likability is almost universal.

Two hundred years ago, the trade in sandalwood was a tragic chapter in Hawaiian history. It devastated upland forests across the archipelago and forced native people into involuntary servitude.

Situated over 2,000 miles away from the nearest major landmass, the tropical Hawaiian Islands lie in the central Pacific Ocean. The islands were formed by volcanoes, and the rich volcanic soil is ideal for farming sandalwood and other crops. Among the other successful crops that are grown, Hawaii’s native Sandalwood trees have long been prized for their beautiful and soft, slightly sweet aroma as well as its unique healing properties. Unfortunately, the land and its resources have not always been managed properly by loggers, high demand amongst other factors, but dōTERRA now has the unique opportunity and ability to create a meaningful and positive impact on various native species that have been mismanaged for decades. The Kealakekua region is home to many of these native species, including Hawaiian Sandalwood, and together, our partners at dōTERRA and the Hawaiian government have put a plan in place for a brighter future of this beautiful tree.

Stewardship Area Management Plan for Kealakekua

Located near the western coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, Kealakekua is a region whose history is deeply intertwined with the many unique and endemic species of Hawaii. Keylakekua which translated, means the Pathway of the Gods. Bay and the surrounding land area have been recognized as one of the most, if not the most, significant historical places in Hawaii. Kealakekua was also the site of the first extended contact between Hawaiians and Western explorers, specifically Captain James Cook in 1779. Kealakekua has remained a significant place after contact, playing a major role in the early history of the Protestant missionaries in Hawaii. During the Great Māhele [division of land] of 1848, Keohokalole, mother of King Kalakaua and Queen Lili`uokalani claimed most of the lands around Kealakekua. — Excerpts from The State of Hawaii’s Kealakekua Stewardship Area Management Plan.

A Brighter Future for Hawaii, and the cultivation of Hawaiian Sandalwood

Shortly following European contact, in the early 1800s the Sandalwood trade with China boomed and King, Kamehameha I himself became heavily involved in the enterprise. The significant revenue generated by the trade caused substantial exploitation of common Hawaiians. The Hawaiian natives were forced to harvest the Sandalwood from the Kealakekua region under extremely difficult conditions. Being mindful of the past is essential to dōTERRA and the Hawaiian people. dōTERRA’s involvement with the Kealakekua Mountain Reserve is an opportunity to participate in a redefined future for growing Hawaiian native trees, including of course Sandalwood. Lani Yamasaki, a respected native Hawaiian practitioner notes, “By reforesting the land with iliahi Sandalwood and other native plants, iliahi becomes a symbol of regeneration, health and healing for both the land and the community.” The reverent approach to Sandalwood management on the Kealakekua Mountain Reserve represents Ka Lā Hiki Ola or The Dawning of a New Day.

Kealakekua Mountain Reserve (KMR) Re-forestation

The Kealakekua Moutain Reserve (KMR) is located on an old ranch, which was overgrazed and over- logged, inhibiting natural regrowth. Although several key native species are difficult to find on the island due to its history of over-harvesting, there are still many indigenous trees in the forest, which covers approximately 9,000 acres of the recently formed Reserve.

To form the Kealakekua Mountain Reserve, a conservation easement was signed to protect these precious native plants, including Sandalwood trees. This management plan outlines harvesting limitations that must be followed at KMR to guarantee the regeneration and prosperity of the forest. Although some tree harvesting will be done in KMR, the amount and types of wood that will be harvested are overseen by our management plan and the Hawaiian government, so as to support our efforts to re-establish a healthy forest in KMR. In order to protect the immediate growth and regeneration of the Sandalwood trees, the management plan specifies that no living Sandalwood trees should be harvested at this time. At the outset of our efforts, only dead or severely damaged trees will be collected, which will allow existing, healthy trees to grow to full maturity before they are harvested at the appropriate time under sustainable tree management practices. With these reforestation efforts in place, sustainable harvesting of Sandalwood will be possible without compromising our initiative to restore the forest to its original beauty. The KMR Reserve, the management objectives, an extensive nursery, and our ambitious reforestation efforts will all synergize to help Sandalwood and other native Hawaiian species thrive once more. We anticipate that KMR will be the largest native forest planting effort in the state of Hawaii starting in 2020.

Growing Sandalwood: It gets by with a little help from its friends

Though the Hawaiian Sandalwood tree can grow to be more than 30 feet tall, it can’t reach such heights on its own. Sandalwood is a hemiparasitic plant, meaning that it needs a host for some of its nutritional needs. Sandalwood trees, including Hawaiian Sandalwood, can produce their own carbon through photosynthesis, but they must connect to the roots of other plants to receive water and other essential nutrients from the soil. Generally, a Sandalwood tree will be connected to many other trees and plants, which together support the healthy development of the Sandalwood.

Distilling Sandalwood: Getting to the heart of the matter The internationally prized essential oil from Sandalwood exists throughout the tree, with the highest concentrations found in the heart wood. The ratio of heart wood to sap wood in Sandalwood trees increases substantially as the trees age. It is, therefore, important to allow trees to grow to maturity before harvesting them for essential oil, or oil in general. This also enables the trees to fulfill their important ecological roles in the forests where they reside.

Once harvested, the wood is chipped. Then to obtain the essential oil a unique distillation process is used to prevent damage to the essential oil with very low to no heat used in the process. Steam is passed through the chipped wood, separating the essential oil from the wood. As the water and oil mixture cools, the essential oil separates from the water by rising to the top of the mixture, thus allowing it to be collected.

Medicinal Properties of Sandalwood Essential Oil

Sandalwood offers powerful grounding and mood-enhancing properties. This is probably due to Sandalwood’s high concentration of the constituent santalol, which makes the oil very grounding and calming. It imparts a sense of well-being and has a beneficial effect on moods. Sandalwood includes a chemical constituent known as santalol, an alcohol that is known for its grounding effects. Aside from its grounding properties, the alcohol in Sandalwood is also known to beautify skin when used topically, and promote calm, relaxed feelings for a restful night's sleep when used aromatically. Research suggests Hawaiian Sandalwood oil helps with the appearance of skin imperfections. In addition to being soothing and beneficial to the skin, Hawaiian Sandalwood provides these same effects to mood, helping to lessen tension and promote emotional well-being.

The chemical constituents of Santalum album have been used for the treatment of various diseases since ancient times. When properly sourced and distilled it is a non-toxic agent that exhibits a wide variety of medicinal properties including anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, diuretic, expectorant and antiseptic activities. It is used widely in Chinese Medicine to treat dysentery, stomach ache, gonorrhea, skin diseases, and anxiety (24). It is also used in the traditional roots of Unani energy medicine systems and other native healing tribes around the world for its medicinal ability to treat gastric ulcers and various cardiac, brain, liver, stomach and skin disorders (28, 29).

Sandalwood oil is widely used in aromatherapy to relieve anxiety, stress, and depression (30). Showing neuroleptic, relaxing, soothing, bronchial dilating and astringent effects. The chemical constituent alpha-santalol (α-Santalol) has been reported to have central nervous system depressant effects, such as sedation and other soothing effects such as relaxation (31). It promotes restful sleep and helps to ease an anxious mind. In studies performed with sleep-disturbed rats, inhalation of α-santalol affected the sleep-wake cycle, and caused a significant decrease in total waking time and an increase in total non-rapid eye movement sleep time. Certain study results also suggest the action of α-santalol via the circulatory system by absorption into the blood through the respiratory mucosa rather than the olfactory system (31) and affecting mood through the limbic brains effects on behavior and emotional well-being.

Incorporate Sandalwood into your Daily Self Care Routine

Diffuse or apply to the neck and shoulders at bedtime for a restful night’s sleep.
Add one to two drops to your favorite moisturizer or night cream for smooth, glowing skin.
Add one to two drops to a hot bath to promote relaxation and lessen tension.

3 Ways Essential Oils can be Used Safely

Diffusion: Use three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice. Internal use: Dilute one drop in four fluid ounces of liquid. Topical use: Apply one to two drops to desired area. Dilute with doTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil to minimize any skin sensitivity.

*Cautions: Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas.