Sandalwood: Unlocking the Mystery of Two Oils (Part Three) Iliahi Hawaiian Sandalwood Essential Oil

Welcome back to Harvesters’ Corner! Today we conclude our dive into the history of Sandalwood, Santalum album. I had a lot of questions concerning this oil as I started my research, and while I have found the answers I was after, I was aghast as the historic abuses wrought through the years as man has endeavored to obtain more Sandalwood. It quickly became evident that a single article would not come close to enabling me to present what I learned through the research. If you have not yet read Part One, the Uses of Sandalwood, or Part Two, Abuses and Solutions for Indian Sandalwood, click the respective links to catch up to where we will be beginning this article.

Sandalwood and Koa Trees

As previously mentioned, there are two primary sources for Sandalwood oil. Sandalwood, formerly known as Indian Sandalwood, Santalum album, is sourced primarily from plantations in Australia, due to the scarcity and overharvesting in India back in the 1970s. The other source, Santalum paniculatum or Hawaiian Sandalwood, is better known by its native name, ‘Iliahi. This, as indicated by its common name, is indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands. Like its cousin Sandalwood, ‘Iliahi has also suffered from historical abuses and, like its cousin, there is a bright future for ‘Iliahi due to modern solutions.  Come and join us as we step back in time to a verdant tropical paradise, still isolated from larger countries and interests by time and distance.

Near the end of the 1700s, Sandalwood was a prized resource. Harvesting still followed established guidelines of harvesting trees every twelve years, which enabled the heartwood to develop and become mature prior to harvesting. Despite these precautions, demand for Sandalwood grew, with the main consumer being China. Sailing captains longed to find resources which they could ship to China and have the Chinese actually purchase the imports. Some captains realized that there were many islands in the Pacific, far from the traditional forests for the tree, which held vast, untouched tracts of Sandalwood. These island kingdoms soon gave way to greed and many ecosystems were irreparably damaged from harvesting.

1791 marks the year when a ship captain recognized Sandalwood trees in Hawaii.  Kamehameha I was still actively engaged in his conquest to unite the Hawaiian Islands into a unified kingdom, a feat he would accomplish in 1810. Exporting Sandalwood looked to be an easy means to finance the continuing island conquest, as the tree grew wild and did not need to be actively irrigated or cultivated to grow. Unwittingly, King Kamehameha I opened up a trap for his people. The exportation of ‘Iliahi shifted the Hawaiian economy from a “produce to use” economy, to a “produce to profit” economy. Upon the king’s death in 1819, his sub-chiefs quickly brokered an agreement with the king’s son and successor, Liholiho, to enable the sub-chiefs to maintain control over the Sandalwood monopoly. (1)

Sandalwood Tree

The last years of Kamehameha I’s reign witnessed the rapid increase of foreign products being introduced into the island kingdom. Ship captains would often allow the islanders credit for purchases, with the agreement being that payment would be in the form of ‘Iliahi trees. This very quickly put a burden on the kingdom’s economy, causing King Kamehameha II (the former Liholiho) to establish a new law for the kingdom: Each individual  would provide the king with 133 pounds (60.33 kg) of ‘Iliahi wood (approximately the weight of one tree) annually, or pay a fine. (2) The sub-chieftains were a crafty bunch of individuals. They knew exactly how much wood was needed to fill a ship’s hold. However, the way by which they obtained this knowledge was through rather dastardly means. Pits, the width and depth of a sailing ship, were dug into hillsides near the forests, and the cut logs were dumped into the pits. Once these were full, the natives would then be required to haul the trunks, often on their backs, down to the harbor, so no damage would come to the precious wood. In some instances, the harbors were as far away as twenty miles. The islanders would receive no compensation for their labors, as this was service required of them by law, to fulfill their tax obligations. It is estimated that nearly 13,000,000 pounds of wood were stripped from the various islands between 1791 and 1840, when the supply could no longer meet the demand. (3)

With Sandalwood all but exhausted, the over-exploitation of the land and people came to an abrupt end. Part of the enduring tragedy of Sandalwood is what happened in the years following. The growth cycle and challenges surrounding Sandalwood growth have been looked at earlier in this series. The understanding of the hemi-parasitical nature of the tree was not understood in the 1800s, so replanting was not a viable option back then. As a result, the cleared land was used for other crops, such as sugar cane in Hawaii, or else being used to raise livestock. Hawaiian Sandalwood appeared to be fading into the past along with the glory of King Kamehameha’s united kingdom.

Time moved into the future. The crisis in India in the early 1970s barely raised any interest in Hawaii. The new millennium brought new advances in science and technology, and people began to dream of a day when plants once indigenous to Hawaii could be grown there again.

In 2014 the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative was launched to preserve sustainable Hawaiian forests, and to protect several of Hawaii’s endangered species by restoring habitat and watersheds. The Legacy Reforestation successfully restored nearly 1,000 acres of koa forest on the Big Island, and in 2019 turned their efforts to the preservation of ‘Iliahi (4) "Historically we often think of the native Hawaiian forest as being predominantly koa, but there were also vast tracts of sandalwood," Darrell Fox, Chief Operating Officer of HLH, a Hawaiian lumber company, says. “The Chinese even referred to Hawai'i as Tan Heung Shan (Sandalwood Mountains). Commerce has played a significant role in the depletion of Hawai'i's sandalwood forests; perhaps science can play an equally important role in returning these trees to the forest." (5) The Legacy Reforestation forest includes approximately 17,000 ‘Iliahi trees. The hemi-parasitical nature of the tree was providing challenges that the scientists were endeavoring to overcome. Unknown to them, they were about to receive support from a very unlikely direction.

Kealakekua Mountain Reserve 

Kealakekua Mountain Reserve

Located on the western shore of the Big Island lies the beautiful lagoon of Kealakekua (KEY-a-la-KE-coo-ah) Bay, located on the western slopes of Mauna Loa. (6) In the modern day, a project is underway with designs of repairing some of the damage done throughout the history of the islands. In 2018 dōTERRA purchased the 9,627 acre Kealakekua Heritage Ranch. Why, you may ask, would an essential oil company want to purchase such a large tract of land in Hawaii? Greg Hendrickson, General Manager of the Kealakekua Mountain Reserve, or KMR, as it known, has stated, “dōTERRA recognized that the ethical and sustainable sourcing of ‘Iliahi (Hawaiian Sandalwood) first requires a commitment to restore the natural habitat that previously existed on the land, and to do so in a way that reverences the remarkable culture of the Hawaiian Islands.” He added, “We deliberately choose locations where we can produce the highest quality essential oils while elevating the individual, social, economic, and environmental well-being of the community.” (7)

“Sandalwood has had a very difficult past,” said Tim Valentiner, vice president of global strategic sourcing for dōTERRA. (8) While many tragedies of the past are not easily healed, KMR is making headway with the restoration of ‘Iliahi to the slopes of Kealakekua Mountain. In the first three years KMR was open, they averaged planting 100,000 native trees on reclaimed grazing land. Their goal is to have one million trees planted by 2030.  As Greg Hendrickson is fond of saying, “A productive forest is protected, and a protected forest is productive.” (9) The efforts underway at KMR extends far beyond trees. Protection in the form of extensive fencing has been placed to preserve the young saplings from feral pigs and sheep. “Their intensive investment in replanting and fencing and the removal of feral ungulates is very impressive,” stated Tanya Rubenstein, a state forester monitoring the reserve. (10)

Kealakekua Mountain Reserve stands as a symbol of regeneration, of health and healing for both the land and the community. (11) Within its borders harmony between man and nature again takes place, a harmony the Hawaiian ancestors would understand and appreciate. KMR is, as of 2022, the largest reforestation project underway in Hawaii. Even adversity, such as the recent fires on Maui, have continued to garner support for KMR. A dōTERRA Healing Hands Initiative took place in December, 2023. People were able to donate $10 (US) towards a goal of raising $100,000 (US) for help in planting one thousand trees on Maui. KMR’s planters provided saplings and critical knowledge to ensure the project's success.

Kealakekua Mountain Reserve

As stated before, KMR opened in 2018 with the lofty goal of planting one million trees by 2030. As of 2022, over 300,000 trees had been planted. A recent update from Co-Impact Sourcing indicates that there have now been 431,396 trees planted, showing the impact countless volunteers are leaving for the future. (12) KMR is closing in on the half-way point, with six years to go for their goal.

The modern-day solutions people are engaged in to ensure the survivability of both Sandalwood and ‘Iliahi are inspiring. The continued growth of plantations in Australia, coupled with the continued successes at the Kealakekua Mountain Reserve will help ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the benefits of this beautiful tree.

Throughout my research concerning Sandalwood, I struggled to find the answer to one elusive question: why does dōTERRA carry both  varities of Sandalwood? Both have very similar chemical composition, with ‘Iliahi possessing some minor elements that Sandalwood does not. The reason listed on dōTERRA’s site really did not help. It states, “dōTERRA offers these precious varieties, which have similar benefits. These two sandalwood oils have nearly identical chemical profiles. Santalum paniculatum’s aroma is slightly sweeter, while Santalum album has a woodier aroma.” (13) I finally reached out to one of my contacts in Co-Impact Sourcing, a lovely young lady named Kelsey, who provided the final key to the puzzle. She informed me that dōTERRA sources both varieties because of the different sourcing approaches and the positive environmental impact each product offers in its respective locations. Due to the value of the Sandalwood oil, and concerns over smuggling, dōTERRA knew it was imperative that there be a clear supply chain from grower to distribution. As such, the company chose to ethically source from the Australian plantations. Kelsey added, “The decision to start KMR and source ‘Iliahi from there is an important part of dōTERRA’s commitment to environmental stewardship…From a practical perspective, while we have a steady stream of ‘Iliahi essential oil to meet our current and future needs, KMR does not produce enough ‘Iliahi oil to be the only Sandalwood product we offer. By offering both Hawaiian Sandalwood and Sandalwood Album, we can ensure that there is enough supply without overharvesting.” And by offering both products, dōTERRA moves forward in its drive to heal the world by starting a new chapter in the history of Sanalum album and Santalum paniculatum, a chapter of hope and positive human impact working to ensure the propagation of these trees for future generations.

Iliahi Oil

Many thanks to Kelsey for providing the last bit of information. It is a privilege to be able to work with her. I hope you have enjoyed these articles on sandalwood. I am excited to see how humanity is working together to provide modern solutions to counteract the historical abuses sustained through the years. One of the best ways you can support these endeavors and be part of the solution is to purchase either Sandalwood or ‘Iliahi. Both are excellent for calming and grounding the mind through meditation, as well as supporting healthy looking skin.

Indian Sandalwood Oil

Thank you for your continued support of Harvesters’ Corner. Please share what you have learned in these articles, and join us next time as we take a look at a flower beloved by the pharaohs of Egypt. Until next time, stay safe!

Sources

1. Rhodes, Diane Lee. “Overview of Hawaiian History.” Chapter V: Changes after the Death of Kamehameha. Online. <https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/kona/history 5e.htm#:~:text=>  Accessed 2 March 2024.

2. Pili, Kamaka. “Aloha Authentic:  History of sandalwood in Hawai’i.” 26 January 2022. Online <https://www.khon2.com/aloha-authentic/aloha-authentic-history-of-sandalwood -in-hawaii/>   Accessed 2 March 2024.

3. Ibid.

4. Pacific Edge Magazine. “The Rebirth of Sandalwood.” September 23, 2019. Online. <https://legacyforest.org/news-blog/2019/9/23/the-rebirth-of-sandalwood>   Accessed 2 March 2024.

5. Ibid

6. The name “Kealakekua” translates as  “the pathway of the gods.” It is unknown at what point in history that the bay and surrounding area received the name. One possible answer is the late 1700s, as indicated by a monument to a pivotal moment in Hawaiian history: on February 14, 1779, Captain James Cook of Britain’s Royal Navy, whom the native warriors viewed as a divine being,  was struck down by native warriors on the shores of the bay.

7. dōTERRA. “A Sneak Peek at the Largest Reforestation Effort in Hawai’i.” April 18, 2022. Online. <https://news.doterra.com/EarthDay2022>  Accessed 2 March 2024.

8. Honolulu Civil Beat. “How a Wellness Company is Saving Sandalwood on the Big Island.” May, 2022. Online. <https://www.civilbeat.org/2022/05/ how-a-wellness-company-is-saving-sandalwood-on-the-big-island/>  Accessed 2 March 2024.

9. dōTERRA 2023 Convention, September 2023.

10. Honolulu Civil Beat. “How a Wellness Company is Saving Sandalwood on the Big Island.” May, 2022. Online. <https://www.civilbeat.org/2022/05/ how-a-wellness-company-is-saving-sandalwood-on-the-big-island/>  Accessed 2 March 2024.

11. dōTERRA. “Kealakekua Mountain Reserve.” Source to You. Online. <https://media. doterra.com/us/en/brochures/co-impact-brochure-hawaii.pdf> Accessed 2 March 2024.

12. dōTERRA. Facebook Post, 4 April 2024. <https://www.facebook.com/share /p/v4hKHbbd3zdr2Nbs/?mibexit=xfxF2i>. Accessed 6 April 2024.

13. dōTERRA. “Hawaiian Sandalwood.” Online. <https://www.doterra.com/US/en/hawaiian-sandalwood-oil-education> Accessed 2 March 2024