Labordia tinifolia var. lanaiensis, a member of the Loganiaceae (logan) family, is an erect shrub or small tree 1.2 to 15 m (4 to 49 ft) tall. The stems branch regularly into two forks of nearly equal size. The leaves are medium to dark green, oval to narrowly oval, 3.8 to 21 cm (1.5 to 8.3 in) long, and 1.4 to 7.3 cm (0.6 to 2.9 in) wide. The leaf stalks are 2.2 to 4 cm (0.9 to 1.6 in) long. The stipules are fused together, forming a sheath around the stem that is 1 to 4 mm (0.04 to 0.2 in) long. Three to 19 flowers are found in each inflorescence, and the entire inflorescence is pendulous and has a stalk 9 to 22 mm (0.4 to 0.8 in) long. The flowers are borne on stalks 8 to 11 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in) long. The corolla is pale yellowish green or greenish yellow, narrowly urn-shaped, and 6.5 to 19 mm (0.2 to 0.7 in) long. The fruit is broadly oval, 8 to 17 mm (0.3 to 0.7 in) long, 2- to 3-valved, and has a beak 0.5 to 1.5 mm (0.02 to 0.06 in) long. The seeds are brown and about 1.8 mm (0.06 in) long.