INTRODUCTION:
   This is the third guide in my series on Hawaiian Carved Wood Bottles. The first guide described the development of the industry in Hawaii; the second was more of a biography of John Oya and his company. Now my purpose in writing this guide is to provide information about the materials and designs of the Oya perfume bottles.

OVERVIEW OF STYLES AND WOODS:

   A.  What woods were used in the making of Oya's bottles?  Three Hawaiian woods were used:  monkey pod, milo, and koa.
               1.  monkey pod wood:   Monkey Pod is the most readily found for it is a fast growing and large tree.  Monkey Pod wood is known for its desirability in  making carved bowls and ornaments because of its variegated colors, textures, and grain.  Native to South America, this umbrella shaped shade tree was introduced to the islands in 1847.  One of the first was planted in what is modern downtown Honolulu.  Sapwood of the monkey pod is yellow in
color while the heartwood is dark chocolate brown to golden borwn with darker streaks. The most prized of this wood is the light yellow with swirling dramatic grain patterns.  It is moderately hard, lightweight, and fairly strong.  Because it shrinks very little and takes a finish well, it is often used in making furniture or bowls.
              2.  milo wood:  Polynesian settlers brought Milo trees to Hawaii.  They were planted around homes for shade.  They have  more slender trunks  (under 12"- 24" in diameter) than do Monkey Pod trees.  When the tree is first cut, the wood is a pink color.  As it dries and ages, Milo wood turns medium to dark brown.  It sands well but because of oils in the wood, it does not hold a finish easily.  Milo wood was used for bowls (especially to hold poi) and paddles.  It is
more expensive than Koa wood.
              3.  koa wood:  Koa trees are native to the Hawaiian Islands.  In fact, Hawaii is the only place where they do grow.  The heartwood is golden red to dark chocolate brown with darker streaks.  The grain is wavy or curly and when polished is very lustrous.  Most ukuleles are made of koa.  It is also used to make furniture, gunstocks, and for paneling.  Ancient Hawaiians so highly prized it that they thought it contained a special mana or energy and used it to make their canoes, spears, and paddles.  They did not use it to make bowls, as we do today, because they did not like the flavor from the tanins in the wood.


   B.  What Hawaiian designs were used in Oya bottles?  Here is an advertising card put out by the Oya Company showing their most popular designs.
                                 
I have seen this card on several sites but never the back which identifies each. So in this guide I will endeavor to provide some information about each bottle shown.

THE DESIGNS: (starting with #1 on the left top row in the chart shown above)

#1  Hibiscus/Anthurium
                       

  This is perhaps the most popular and most common of the Oya flower holders.  You get two flowers on one bottle. 
                               
        In Hawaii, over 33 varieties of hibiscus have been imported from other countries to be  added to 3 local species.  From those, over 5,00 varieties now exit.  Of the three native species:  a yellow, a red, and pink, the yellow hibiscus or  ma'o-hau-hele, is Hawaii's state flower.  Anthurium probably originated in South America.  While the red anthurium is usually the one people think of, there are pink, purple, white, and mottled species now cultivated.  Cut anthuriums look almost like artificial flowers due to their shiny waxy surface. They last for weeks in water, and for months on the plant.

#2  Tuberose or Wood Rose
                
I have not seen this design identified.  However,  I believe that it represents the Hawaiian tuberose or woodrose.
                                                        
     The dried pod of the tuberose is very popular in wet climates in flower arrangements.  By the very fact they are dry may be a nice change in wet tropical areas.  The brown pod, which somewhat resembles a rose, while stil on the plant splits to allow a yellow  flower to emerge.   It is another species introduced from Latin America to Hawaii where it is known as pili-kai  in Hawaiian.  Pili means to "cling, touch, stick to" and  kai means "ocean".  This vining plant was cultivated as an ornamental.  However, it is so fast growing and hardy that it is now considered more of an invasive weed that threatens to take over  other vegetation by literally smothering trees and smaller plants in lowland forests.  The woodrose pod itself is used in dried flower arrangements and wreaths.

#3 Plumeria
       
   Plumeria, like so many other flowers in Hawaii, was  imported from Latin America.  The plumeria, also known  as frangipani, melia in Hawaiian, and temple tree, was introduced by Dr. William Hilebrand in 1860.  Because of  its long lasting blooms, heady fragrance, and easy maintenance, plumeria was frequently planted in cemeteries, around temples, and in home gardens.  It is grown as an ornamental and is
not found in the wild.  The flowers are tubular expanding into a pinwheel of five petals.

                                                    

#4 & #7 (two different sizes) Tiki Warrior
                                  

Most Polynesians believe that Tiki was the first man created. In Polynesian mythology, Tiki or hei tiki is a sculpture carved in the shape of a god, housing a spirit.  To many, the Tiki was more than just a statue. It symbolized everything about the South Pacific.
     Polynesian-themed restaurants opened in the 1930s and 1940s, offering tropical rum drinks, and housing
flaming torches, rattan furniture, flower leis, brightly colored fabrics, an tiki statues. The Tiki's popularity skyrocketed in the late 1950s and early 1960s marked by the entrance of Hawaii as the 50th state in 1959. Tiki mugs and torches that once collected dust in thrift stores became hot items.
     A tiki is usually shown in a stance of readiness and with a stern expression which were intended to convey authority which came from principal gods, guardians and spirit powers.  There are four main tikis in
Hawaii:  Ku "Warrior God", Kane "Fresh Water", Lono "Good luck and protection:, and Kanaloa "Ocean".  Oya's tiki is stylized and probably not meant to be a particular tiki spirit.

#5  Water Lily

                          

       The waterlily is also known as a lotus flower.  The waterlily is a rooted plant with large, firm, dark-green leaves  Leaves are nearly circular, 5 to 9 inches in diameter, and usually floating, although some may stand slightly above the water surface.   Leaves are split to a stalk attached at the leaf center and are often purplish on the bottom. The distinctive sweet-scented, white or pink flower is borne on a tall stalk that rises out of the water.
     What is the difference between a water lily and a lotus?  Both are aquatic plants that grow in shallow, calm water and require lots of sunshine.  The waterlily originated in the west and the lotus came
from the east.  Water lily leaves rest on the surface of the water, while lotus leaves rise above the surface.

                                    


#6  Night Blooming Ceres /  Cereus

                         
     This flower looks like a dead bush for most of the year.  Then, once each year in June or July, its fragrant flowers open as night falls.  When the first rays of the sun strike it in the morning, the blooms close and die.  The Night Blooming Cereus was made famous by the Matson Cruise Line in a design for  a menu cover by artist Frank Macintosh.  The design was first used on the cruise line ships in about 1940.

#8 The Seahorse

                

     Little is known about the life history of the rare Hawaiian seahorse. This unique fish is most commonly found on the surface at night over very deep water.  They are unique, extraordinary creatures that come in assorted sizes and colors. The male is the only animal that gives birth to fully formed babies. They have the ability to change colors and they don’t object to being touched.  There are more than 30 known species of seahorses in the world’s oceans. Their rate of survival in the wild is considerably less than  in captivity.  They live up to about 8 years.  The seahorse has a long, prehensile tail which it will curl around any support such as seaweed to prevent being swept away by currents.

#9

               
    
Red Torch Ginger (Etlingera elatior 'Red') is called apuhi ko'o ko'o in Hawaii, (Pukui).  It is native to South East Asia. It is a clumping type of ginger with large elongated leaf stems that can attain heights up to 15 feet under ideal conditions.  The glossy flowers grow on stalks that reach a height of 5 feet.  The end of the stalk resembles a torch.  It is used in large cut flower arrangements.  Red Ginger is not the edible ginger grown for spice, though when still young it serves as a delicacy in some Asian countries.  Its roots and stems are highly aromatic when cut.

#10  Angel Fish

              

     Angel fish (khi khi) are found in shallow coral reefs in tropical waters.  Their thin bodies can pass easily through the coral branches.  They are colorful and have many different patterns.  Approximately 80 species are known worldwide, but only five occur in Hawaiian waters.

OTHER DESIGNS BY OYA:
    The Oya Company apparently produced other perfume bottle designs than those shown in the early ad.  Ones I know of are:  Pikake (Jasmine), a Sandalwood (flower looks like it but not verified), an unidentified tall tulip like flower, a double stemmed leaf with two bottles, an orchid, two palm trees (see picture in my 2nd John Oya guide), and a trumpet flower (see picture in my 2nd John Oya guide).  There may certainly be others and if anyone reading this guide has information about them, I would love to learn more.  Since I have run out of allowed picture space for these other designs in this guide, I am only listing the ones best known.

PRICING:
     A booklet for service men and women entitled "To Do Today in Honolulu &
Oahu" for the week of Nov. 3 - Nov. 9, 1945 sold recently on eBay (summer 2008).  It consisted of 48 pages with many ads for shows, restaurants,  and products of Hawaii.   One of the ads was a super 2 page spread for John OYA carved wood perfume containers.  It included pictures of the bottles with prices ranging from $6 for the simpler floral designs up to $18 for the Angel fish .
      Today you can expect to pay $50 to $75 on the average for the flower designs and $90 to $125 or more for the seahorse and Angel Fish bottles.  By the way, I recently discovered that the seahorse and Angel fish bottles were designed by John's wife, Shizuko, rather than by John!  [See my guide on the biography of John Oya for more details.]

LISTING AND SEARCHING TERMS:
      Sometimes these bottles are hard to find due to the way they have been listed on eBay.  Some of the terms I have found useful when listing or when looking for them are these:
             John Oya
             wood perfume / wooden perfume
             Hawaii perfume / Hawaiian perfume
             milo wood
             cologne container
             carved wood bottle  (Once I found one listed as a "snuff bottle"!)

      PLEASE VOTE FOR THIS GUIDE IF YOU FOUND IT USEFUL!
                               THANK YOU FOR READING IT.