`Ohi`a `ai (mountain apple) and a fun pickle recipe

By Heidi Bornhorst

After the flooding rains and wild winds of 2026, I was curious to see how plants and trees, flowers and fruit would respond.

We have a neighbor who has a fabulous Tahitian mountain apple tree in her garden.  Over the years I have helped prune, oversee a big crown reduction pruning and helped her (and former owner Cindie) rake up many many fallen fruits (makes great compost) or an overloaded dripping green trash bin!

This year I watched buds and flower form, and fruit ripen.  Now I have been going up to pick and help her again in her garden (drainage issues from the flood)

I Love picking these jewel like fruit.  It’s a good upper arm workout, with the picker.  You see a gorgeous red plump one, wiggle the picker up to it, carefully, so as not to dislodge the unripe neighbors.  The best ones have a bird peck in them; I just rinse well and cut out the bird bites. 

With an abundance of Tahitian mountain apples, this short season ephemeral fresh fruit that you can’t freeze like mangoes, what to do?

Hawaii people are funny about `Ohi`a `ai or mountain apples.  Some Love them, especially this giant pretty variety, and some politely say no thank you.

These days we are joyous to accept mango and lychee, avocado and `ulu even to the point of buying them! (And as soon as you do spend money on them, guarans, somebody is going to gift you with a whole bag of same fruit or produce from their garden or farm!)

But mountain apples, not so much.  

Some do not like them; some must have raked up too many fallen ones as a kid or something!

I tell them they are rich in vitamin C, and supply dietary fiber, as well as vitamin A and C and Calcium… freshly picked, rinsed and chilled, so crisp and refreshing, etc., but only a few takers among my neighbors and friends.

Mountain apples are a natural source of hydration – perfect for hot summer days!  Or enjoyed down at the beach. 

My niece Jalene was visiting and found an article about them, which included 2 recipes, one for pickles and one for apple sauce with ginger.

Both sound ono and not too complex.  My friend and Farmer on Hawaii island, Deborah Ward makes `ohi`a `ai PIE.

Jalene and I harvested several bags, came home, cleaned, and ate some.  

Then we decided to make pickles:

1. Wash well in cool water.

2. Slice thinly

3. Marinated in clean jars:

Ingredients

• White vinegar

• Braggs apple cider vinegar

• Finely chopped garlic

• 2 chili peppers, Ni`oi, chopped.

• Pa`akai Hawaiian salt

• Brown sugar

Mix well, cap jars and refrigerate.

The chili peppers have been in a bag in my freezer, a gift from Surfing Budley, Colleen Kudo.  The salt from Kalaupapa where my friends Mari Zane; and Ben and Ellie Lum volunteer.

The brown sugar I bought at Longs a while ago, when the last sugar plantation closed on Maui, thought I had better stock up on real Hawaiian sugar while it lasted.  I don’t cook with sugar much, usually.

This came out pretty ono and very lovely to look at in the jar. They will be gifts and side dishes for our Fourth of July pa`ina with our Gourmet hiking buddies.

Mountain apples or `ohi`a `ai (the `ohi`a that you `ai or eat) are related to `ohi`a lehua, both are in the Myrtaceae plant family. They are a Polynesian introduction or canoe plant. Some call it ‘Malay apple’ as it is native to the Malay peninsula, and nearby areas, but long spread around by fruit eating and planting people. 

Brought not only for the fruit but also for medicine and for beauty. As my mom says the prettiest stage to her, is in flower and the magenta blossoms on the tree and reflected up from the ground below, from masses of fallen stamens.

Syzygium malaccense is the Latin name that scientists use.  The typical Hawaiian variety is kind of fat and round. There are also white fruited varieties.  The ‘Tahitian’ is long and becomes deep red when ripe.  

This is not a common variety these days, so I’ve been carefully saving seeds from the biggest, nicest ones to share and plant.

We all need to plant more trees and cool our islands and ourselves.  Why not plant a nice Tahitian Mountain apple tree?!