Santalum haleakalae var. lanaiense (iliahi, Lanai sandalwood) is a small shrub to tree in the sandalwood family (Santalaceae). Trees are 1 to 13 m (3 to 43 ft) tall, often with drooping branches. Leaves green, sometimes slightly glaucous, the young ones often purple-tinged. Leaves are broadly elliptic to ovate or orbicular, usually flat. Flowers are weakly fragrant, red to yellow in bud, and longer than wide. The floral tube is yellowish white to white, turning red with age, and not constricted at the throat. The endocarp is smooth, and drupes are reddish purple to nearly black at maturity, and 8 to 17 mm (0.3 to 0.7 in) long, with a subapical receptacular ring.