‘Ëkaha Asplenium nidus

Indigenous

Naturally found on trees or valley floors in mesic to wet forests on all the main Hawaiian Islands, except Kaho‘olawe. Nä Inoa ‘Ë A‘e: ‘Äkaha, ‘Ëkaha Kuahiwi, ‘Ëkahakaha, Bird’s Nest Fern Nä Hi‘ohi‘ona:

• A large fern with long, light-green fronds which radiate out from a dark, hairy center.

Ka Ho‘ohana ‘Ana:

• The dark midrib can be woven into lau hala mats for purposes of design, contrast and color.

• The various parts of the ‘Ëkaha were combined with other plants to remedy ‘ea (thrush), pä‘ao‘ao (physical weakness) and body sores.

‘Ike Pili:

• “The ‘Ëkaha, hailed by Hawaiians as Maui’s paddle,” was used by some to adorn the hula altar.” (Unwritten Literature of Hawai‘i, p. 19)

• ‘Ëkaha Kuahiwi was often ceremonially placed over the stump of a felled tree before it was carved to become a canoe.

Ma Kawaiaha‘o: Mäla

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Hähä Cyanea dunbarii

Endemic

Naturally found on Molokaÿi. Nä Inoa ÿË Aÿe: Hähä lua Nä Hiÿohiÿona:

• A branched shrub 5 - 7 ft. tall. • The leaves are oval to broadly elliptic and are 4 - 10 in. in length and 2 - 5 in. in

width, with irregularly lobed or cleft margins. • The flowers bloom in groupings of 6 - 8 on a stalk.

Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 3

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Hala Pandanus tectorius

Indigenous

‘Ähui hala of the female tree Hïnano of the male tree

This indigenous tree is found on all the main Hawaiian Islands except Kaho‘olawe. Nä Hi‘ohi‘ona:

• A medium sized tree up to 30+ ft. with long spiny leaves and many aerial and prop roots (uleule hala or ‘awe‘awe).

• The male tree (hala hïnano) has blossoms called hïnano. The female tree has fruit clusters (‘ähui hala) made up of individual “keys” called hala.

• There are four types of Hala based on fruit color: common hala with yellow fruit, hala ‘ula with orange fruit, hala lihilihi ‘ula with red fruits that fade to yellow below, and hala pia with small, pale-yellow fruit.

Ka Ho‘ohana ‘Ana:

• The leaves are used for weaving mats and sails and were also a primary thatching material.

• Lei were often made from the hua or keys of the fruit and when dried can also be used for dye brushes.

• The uleule hala, aerial roots, can be used for cordage and needles for lei making. • The root is also used medicinally as a good source of vitamin B. • The hïnano is used for perfuming tapa cloth and was placed between sleeping mats

for that effect. ‘Ike Pili: Hala lei are given to recognize new beginnings and/or moments of completion. The Hala lei symbolically honors the passing or completion of a momentous occasion such as a graduation (completion of hard work), funeral (completion of the life cycle), birthdays (passing of another year). lit. hala: to pass The hïnano was often associated with romance. ‘Ölelo No‘eau: Pala ka hala; Momona ka hä‘uke‘uke. When the hala is ripe; the sea urchins are fat. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 9 Ma Kawaiaha‘o: Mäla

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Hala-pepe Pleomele hawaiiensis

Endemic

Hawaiÿi has six species of Hala-pepe endemic to specific islands. This variety is naturally found only in the dry-mesic forests of Hawai‘i Island. Kinolau: Laka Nä Hi‘ohi‘ona:

• A tree 10 - 15 ft. tall that somewhat resembles a money tree. • When it flowers it sends out a panicle with pale-yellow flowers that develop into

orange fruit resembling a large bunch of orange grapes. Ka Ho‘ohana ‘Ana:

• Hale-pepe branches and blossoms were used for the hälau hula altar. This was one of a number of plants associated with the altar dedicated to Laka, the goddess of hula. (Native Planters, p. 241)

Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 6 Ma Kawaiaha‘o: Mäla

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Hame Antidesma pulvinatum

Endemic

Naturally found in the dry to mesic forests of Oÿahu, Molokaÿi, Maui, and Hawaiÿi. Nä Inoa ÿË Aÿe: Haÿä, Haÿämaile, Hamehame, Mehame, Mehamehame Nä Hiÿohiÿona:

• These trees grow in the range of 6 - 25 ft. tall. • Its glossy foliage, when young, is maroon and turns dark-green as it matures. • The leaves are elliptical with clean margins and a sharp apex. • Flowers develop on panicles which turn into small reddish-purple grape-like fruit.

Ka Hoÿohana ÿAna:

• The hardwood of hame is used to make anvils for beating kapa or for preparing olonä to make cordage.

• The dark reddish-purple berries are used to make a red dye for kapa. • Chewed leaves can be used to treat nausea.

Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 4

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Hao Rauvolfia sandwicensis

Endemic

Naturally found in mesic forests, occasionally in lower dry forests, on all of the main Hawaiian Islands except Kahoÿolawe. Nä Hiÿohiÿona:

• Generally grows in the 5 - 15 ft. range but can reach heights up to 30 ft. • It has elliptical leaves that form whorls of up to 7 leaves per node. • Each leaf has smooth margins, is bright green with a yellow midrib and is about 5

in. in length. • The flowers are very tiny, white and emerge on clusters. • Once pollinated, the flowers will form small fruit about ¾ in. across which

eventually turns dark-purple/black when ripe. • The color of the bark is light tan. • The inner wood is very hard. • Hao bleeds a milky sap when either leaves or stems are broken.

Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 4

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Häpuÿu Cibotium glaucum

Endemic

Naturally found on all the main Hawaiian Islands. Nä Hi‘ohi‘ona:

• Tree ferns with large fronds that have bluish-green undersides. • At the base of the fronds and on new frond fiddle heads are light brown stems

rising from a mass of pulu (silky, golden, soft wool). • Young shoots are called pepe‘e.

Ka Ho‘ohana ‘Ana:

• In times of famine, the starch within the trunk was cooked and eaten. • The pulu was used as a dressing, to embalm the dead. • Later the pulu was used to stuff mattresses and pillows and the trunk core

used for starch in laundry. • Young stems can be used to make hats. • The pith of the Häpu‘u trunk is used with a combination of other plants to make

medicines that return the loss of appetite, relieve certain types of chest pains and sore muscles, and as a blood purifier.

He Nane – A Riddle He i‘a ko ke kai A fish in the sea, He lä‘au ko uka. A tree in the upland. He Häpu‘u A Grouper (fish) He Häpu‘u A tree fern Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 3 Ma Kawaiaha‘o: Kïhäpai

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Hau Hele ‘Ula Kokia drynarioides

Endemic

Naturally found only in the upper dry forest and ÿaÿä lava fields of North Kona on the island of Hawaiÿi. Na Hiÿohiÿona:

• A hibiscus tree with large maple-like leaves and salmon colored flowers. • The flower petals are uniquely shaped with ruffles that bend backwards onto each

other. • Reaching heights of up to 25 ft. plus, this plant can be quite tall for a hibiscus.

Ka Hoÿohana ÿAna:

• Dye made from this plant was used to color fishnets. Pink dye is made from the flowers and a darker red dye was derived from the bark.

Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 3

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Hinahina Heliotropium anomalum var. argenteum

Indigenous

Naturally found on the shoreline of all the main Hawaiian Islands. Nä Inoa ÿË Aÿe: Hinahina Kü Kahakai, Nohonohopuÿuone, Pöhinahina (Not to be confused with Spanish Moss or Pele’s Hair both commonly called Hinahina.) Na Hiÿohiÿona:

• A prostrate ground cover with fragrant flower clusters. • Each flower cluster is comprised of up to 15 small white flowers that protrude up

above a tight, silvery rosette of leaves. Ka Hoÿohana ÿAna:

• The flowers and leaf rosettes can be used for lei making. • A mild tasting tea can be made by steeping the leaves and flowers in boiling water.

Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 6

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Höÿawa Pittosporum hosmeri

Endemic

Naturally found on the leeward side of Hawaiÿi Island from Kohala to Kaÿü in mesic forests. Nä Inoa ÿË Aÿe: Häÿawa, ÿAÿawa, ÿAÿawa Hua Kukui Nä Hiÿohiÿona:

• Small trees 20 - 25 ft. tall with long tear-drop shaped leaves. • The young leaves, as well as the underside of the more mature leaves, are usually

covered with minute, golden-brown hairs. • Its flowers emerge in clusters protruding out of the stems. • Once pollinated, they develop into large, bright-orange, nut-shaped capsules with

reddish-black seeds that are almost cubicle in form and about 3 in. long and 1 - 2 in. wide.

ÿIke Pili:

• The ÿAlalä, the nearly extinct Hawaiian crow, feed on Hö‘awa fruit. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 4

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Hunakai Ipomea imperati

Indigenous

Naturally found on beaches and sand dunes on Niÿihau, Kauaÿi, Oÿahu, Molokaÿi and Maui. Nä Hiÿohiÿona:

• Prostrate growing vines that creep along the ground often rooting at the leaf nodes. • The leaves are somewhat succulent, roundish to highly lobed and grow 1 - 3 in.

long. • A member of the morning glory family it produces white flowers.

ÿIke Pili:

• In the Kumulipo, the Hawaiian creation chant, many things are created in a dualistic manner meaning that when one thing is created in the ocean, there is often a counter part created on land or in the air and vice versa. The sky counterpart for the beach Hunakai is a small white and grey migratory bird, also called Hunakai. This bird forages near the same areas that this plant is found.

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ÿIhi

Portulaca lutea Indigenous

Naturally found on the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Oÿahu, Molokaÿi, Maui, Länaÿi, and Hawaiÿi on coastal and strand habitats such as lava, raised coral reef, sand and soil. Nä Hiÿohiÿona:

• Prostrate herbs with thick stems and tightly arranged, alternating leaves which are rounded and very succulent.

• On the top of the stems, a small cup of leaves holds a cluster of yellow flowers 1 ½ in. in diameter.

Ka Hoÿohana ÿAna:

• ÿIhi mixed with ÿÄwikiwiki is known to treat itchy skin or other skin disorders. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 3

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ÿIhi Portulaca molokiniensis

Endemic

These plants are fairly rare and are restricted to coastal rocky areas with 3 known natural populations: Molokini, Pu‘ukoaÿe islet and Kaho‘olawe.

Nä Hi‘ohi‘ona:

• These rare succulents are short and stocky. • They have thick leaves that usually cluster towards the top of an even thicker stem. • It usually branches up from the ground and looks like tiny cactus. • The flowers are bright-yellow and clustered in a cup of leaves which rise up from a

long tube above the plant. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 4 Ma Kawaiaha‘o: Kïhäpai

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‘Ihi Portulaca villosa

Endemic

Naturally found in dry rocky coast sites of all the main Hawaiian Islands except Niÿihau and Kauaÿi but reported on Kaÿula and Nïhoa Nä Hiÿohiÿona:

• A succulent, prostrate herb up to 8 in. tall with narrow, pale-green leaves that grow up to 1 in. long.

• The flowers are usually pink, white, or white with pink margins, about 1 in. in diameter in clusters of 2 - 5 at the top of the leaves.

• Once pollinated, small seed capsules develop with numerous round, tiny, brownish-black seeds.

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Iliau Wilkesia gymnoxiphium

Endemic

Naturally found only on Kaua‘i in the dry-mesic forests of Waimea Canyon. Nä Inoa ‘Ë A‘e: Kaua‘i Greensword Nä Hi‘ohi‘ona:

• This rare plant is a rosette shrub, normally unbranched, that grows 3 - 10 ft. tall with long, narrow leaves.

• It takes at least 7 years for this plant to flower and, just like the Silversword (a close relative), once the plant flowers it dies.

• The cream-colored flowers are slightly fragrant and are arranged in heads of 40 - 350 on a stalk that protrudes above the whole plant.

Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 3 Ma Kawaiaha‘o: Mäla

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ÿIlieÿe Plumbago zeylanica

Indigenous

Naturally found on all the main Hawaiian Islands from the lowland dry forest to the coast. Nä Inoa ÿË Aÿe: Hilieÿe, ÿIliheÿe, Lauhihi (Ni‘ihau) Nä Hiÿohiÿona:

• A low sprawling shrub with long stems, light-green foliage and clusters of bluish- white flowers that emerge at the stem tips.

• Once the flowers are pollinated, small, slightly-sticky cigar shaped fruits will begin to develop.

Ka Hoÿohana ÿAna:

• The sap of ÿIlieÿe can be used to blacken tattoos. • The roots, stems and seeds can be used for medicine, but is poisonous in large

amounts. • Combined with other ingredients it can be used to treat sores and swelling.

Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 4

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ÿIlima Papa Sida fallax

Indigenous

Naturally found on all the main Hawaiian Islands near the ocean in the strand vegetation zone. Nä Inoa ‘Ë A‘e: ‘Ilima kü kula (‘Ilima standing on plains), ‘Ilima Kolo (crawling ‘Ilima; Moloka‘i) Nä Hi‘ohi‘ona:

• This wild form of ‘Ilima has pale-green leaves, woody stems and bright-orange flowers.

Ka Ho‘ohana ‘Ana:

• ‘Ilima is the island flower of O‘ahu. • ‘Ilima bushes lashed in bundles were used to encircle mounds for taro-planting in

swamp land. • Wild ‘Ilima can be used to make lei ‘Ilima though less commonly than the

domesticated variety. • Make-shift baskets were made from the pliable stems of the wild ‘Ilima. • Medicinally the ‘Ilima was called kanaka maikaÿi (good man). • The flowers can be used as a mild laxative for babies by squeezing out the juice. • The flower is also used as a cathartic. • Traditionally, it was commonly used to treat asthma; the leaf or the root bark could

be used usually in the form of a tonic. • You can add some flowers to your tossed salad to add nice color by pinching them

out of their calyxes (the small green cup that the petals emerge from). ‘Ike Pili: Wild ‘Ilima plants grow flat and close to the ground. This form was said to be a kinolau (body) of Käne‘äpua, healer and god of taro planters. It was also identified with Laka, patroness of hula, but not used for the altar of the hälau hula. (Native Planters, p. 227) Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 2 Ma Kawaiaha‘o: Mäla

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