Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau U.S. Dept. of the Interior National Historical Park National Park Service

Lā‘au Makamae o Hawai‘i Precious Plants of Hawai‘i

Polynesians brought many precious items with them on their long journeys of two-way voyaging to Hawai‘i. These “canoe plants” ensured the survival of their people and played a vital role in every aspect of life.

Noni Polynesian Introduced: Brought to Hawai‘i by Indian Mulberry Polynesians on canoes. Morinda citrifolia Indigenous: Found in Hawai‘i and elsewhere Polynesian Introduced on Earth. This medicinal plant Endemic: Evolved in Hawai‘i and found was used to treat nowhere else on Earth wounds, boils, bone fractures, and sore Mai‘a muscles. The roots and Banana bark make red and Musa acuminata yellow dye for kapa Polynesian Introduced (barkcloth). This large herb produces edible fruits, cooked or Kukui given as ho‘okupu Candlenut (offerings) at heiau Aleurites moluccana (temples). Most bananas Polynesian Introduced Kukui kernels fueled were kapu (forbidden) to Hawaiian torches and women. Banana leaves candles. The nuts are serve as food wrappers and roasted and eaten as a keep food clean, the juicy relish called ‘inamona. stalks are an important part Medicinally, the raw of cooking food in the imu nuts were eaten as a (earth oven). It is the plant laxative. Kukui nut oil was used as a canoe varnish. form of the god Kanaloa.

Kou ‘Ulu Cordia subcordata Breadfruit Polynesian Introduced Artocarpus altilis Kou wood was prized Polynesian Introduced The large edible fruits of for food platters, bowls, ‘ulu are contain high and containers; it does amounts of vitamins B and not impart a bad taste C. Strong glue was rendered onto food like the from the milky sap for native koa wood. canoe building. ‘Ulu and Canoes, paddles, and other woods were also used fishhooks were also to make surfboards, canoes, made of kou. and ki‘i (carved images). Kō Sugarcane Saccharum officinarum Wauke Polynesian Introduced Paper Mulberry Sugarcane juice made Broussonetia papyrifera Polynesian Introduced herbal medicines taste better. Sugarcane leaves, Wauke was cultivated for its inner like hala and ti leaves bark from which the finest quality were used for thatching kapa (barkcloth) was made. Making the inside of hale kapa is a lengthy process; the inner (houses). bark is removed, soaked, and then pounded on a wooden anvil with different types of wooden beaters. Ipu Niu Bottle Gourd Coconut Lagenaria siceraria Cocos nucifera Polynesian Introduced Polynesian Introduced Ipu were primarily Niu is truly the “tree of cultivated for use as life” it provided water containers, and for Hawaiians with food, storage. Percussion coconut water, baskets, instruments and rattles thatching, and cordage. made from ipu Coconut husk fibers made accompany hula and strong rope, seven miles chants. Ipu were carved of cordage was required to into ceremonial helmets make a double hull canoe! used by priests of Kū. Niu is the plant form of the god Kū and the Hala goddess Hina. Pandanus tectorius Polynesian Introduced Kī or Ti Indigenous Cordyline fruticose Durable hala leaves Polynesian Introduced were plaited into canoe Ti leaves have a multitude sails, mats, and baskets. of uses such as; cooking, The leaves were also storing food, fashioning used for thatching. The ‘ahu lā‘ī (rain capes) and many “keys” of the large hukilau (fishing with a fruit were eaten fresh as a seine). Ho‘okupu famine food or dried to (offerings) were usually make small brushes for wrapped with ti. It is the decorating kapa plant form of the god (barkcloth) with plant Kāne. dyes.

Loulu Milo Hawaiian Fan Palm Portia Tree Pritchardia spp. Thespesia populnea Endemic Polynesian Introduced Milo wood came Loulu wood was used second only to kou for for spears, thatching, wood carvings such as house posts, and drums. food platters, poi Considered sacred, its calabashes, and bowls. fibers were woven into This was one of the burial caskets. The green many cordage plants. fruit is edible. There are 19 species of loulu, Pili some are endangered, Tanglehead Grass rare, or vulnerable. Heteropogon contortus Indigenous Kamani Pili grass was primarily Alexandiran Laurel used for thatching hale Calophyllum inophyllum (houses). It grows in large Polynesian Introduced clumps that can be Kamani wood was uprooted, trimmed, and ideal for bowls and bundled, then tied and platters known as pā layered upon the wooden kamani. Its aromatic framework. Pili grass is flowers scented kapa abundant in dry areas. Look cloth. Look for it in the it in the main parking lot. main parking lot.