Mānoa Heritage Center

July 20, 2022 •

ʻApe

Alocasia macrorrhiza Polynesian Introduction Located primarily in our Kaʻahaʻaina Garden, ʻApe (ah-pay) has glossy green leaves that can get as large as 5 ft long and 2 ft wide. Able to grow up to 15 feet tall, it can sometimes be mistaken for kalo or taro as they are in the same family and share […]

January 25, 2022 •

ʻAwa

Piper methysticum Polynesian Introduction ʻAwa is made into a traditional drink used to relax people and help them sleep, especially if they have a fever. ʻAwa is a drink presented during social gatherings, important ceremonial rituals as well as a medicine. ‘Awa or kava is derived from the roots and bottom portion of the stem. […]

ʻAwapuhi

Zingiber zerumbethi  Polynesian Introduction This seasonal plant disappears from our garden (except for its tubers) during winter months. Also known as “shampoo ginger,” it was brought by Polynesians as a medicine and can be found growing near many streams throughout the Hawaiian islands. The ginger gets its nickname because of the thick perfumy sap contained in the ripe flower buds that […]

Hala

Pandanus Polynesian Introduction Leaves (lau hala) used for plaiting mats, canoe sails, hats and containers; fruits for lei-making and paintbrushes; roots and flowers used medicinally. Male flower (hinano) is an aphrodisiac. The small fruits are edible and used only as a famine food. The aerial roots allow hala to filter saltwater and survive at the […]

Hau

Hibiscus tiliaceus Native Indigenous AND/OR Polynesian Introduction  Yellow flower with a mahogany center turns crimson right before it falls. Bark fibers were very useful for making strong cordage for a variety of uses; inner bark fibers consist of long tough lengths of fiber. The light wood was used for spars of canoe outriggers. Sap used […]

ʻAʻaliʻi

Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. Native Indigenous This plant has the ability to withstand strong winds and dry weather; hence the saying, ʻaʻali‘i kū makani (ʻaʻali‘i standing in the wind). The wood is used for tools, weapons, and timber; its red dye is used to color kapa, and seed capsules are used to make lei. Each variety […]

Kalo (Taro)

Colocasia esculenta Polynesian Introduction Kalo is indisputably the most important plant in Hawaiian culture. Besides being the staple food source, it is also the center of spiritualism, mythology, and social structure. In Hawaiian culture, the kalo plant is literally the elder brother of mankind. As the elder brother, kalo nourishes us, and we, in return, […]

Kī (Ti)

Cordyline minalis Polynesian Introduction Kī is a fast-growing woody plant that can reach 12 feet high. Known to Hawaiians as kī, it is a ti plant, a member of the lily family. Kī is considered sacred to the Hawaiian god, Lono, and the goddess of hula, Laka. It is an emblem of high rank and […]

Kō (Sugar Cane)

Saccharum officinarum Polynesian Introduction Sugar cane was a popular item in old Hawaiʻi and is still enjoyed today. Hawaiians extracted the juice to sweeten dishes and medicines, or simply chewed on the raw stalk as a refreshing snack. As kō was chewed, it scrubbed the teeth and gums clean with its fibrous quality. Hawaiians grew […]

ʻAeʻae

Bacopa Monrei Native Indigenous ʻAeʻae is a part of the Plantaginaceae or Plantain family. It can grow in water and is used in modern restoration efforts to clean waterways. This is due to ʻAeʻae’s natural ability to soak up unwanted nutrients (phytoremediation). ʻAeʻae is an antioxidant and is used in medicine to help with brain […]

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