Alphitonia ponderosa is a species of flowering tree in the family Rhamnaceae, that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.

Alphitonia ponderosa is a medium to large tree, reaching 15–24 m (49–79 ft) high with a trunk 20–60 cm (7.9–23.6 in) in diameter.

It was used as a replacement for metal by the Native Hawaiians,[2] who made laʻau melomelo (fishing lures), pāhoa (daggers), ihe (short spears), pololū (long spears), ʻōʻō (digging sticks), hohoa (round kapa, beaters) ʻiʻe kūkū (square kapa beaters), leiomano (shark tooth clubs), and kiʻi (tiki carvings) with it.

[4] Alphitonia ponderosa is considered a vulnerable species by the IUCN because of its fragmented distribution and declining population.

Major threats include rats, pigs, deer, competition with introduced species of plants, and wildfire.