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Home > Plants
> Polynesian Plants in Hawaii
Updated 9/15/2023
Plants brought to Hawaii by
Early Polynesian Settlers
Polynesian seafarers from the Society & Marquesas Islands brought
useful plants (along with some unwelcome animals) to Hawaii. Many
species are either naturalized or still extant at undisturbed sites
where originally cultivated. Of questionable origin are the
Coconut Palm, Hau, & Milo, species that may have rafted here on
their own.
These plants were critical to the survival of Hawaiians since most
native species are largely inedible. Nevertheless, native plants
were highly utilized for medicine, construction, and handiworks. |
Family Araceae
Colocasia esculenta
UH Manoa, Oahu |
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TARO KALO SATOIMO
Native to Malaysia & cultivated in watered paddies throughout the
tropics. Remains an important staple in Pacific Islands. Stinging calcium oxalate crystals must be removed by cooking or soaking
in cold water before consumption. Starchy root or corm is mashed
with water to create poi. Leaves are cooked like spinach. Also grown as an ornamental.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taro |
Alocasia macrorrhiza
UH Manoa, Oahu
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'APE
Brought to Hawaii by early settlers and naturalized along lowland
streams & wet areas. Leaf apices tend to point skyward,
moderately glossy. Baked corms eaten during famines. Occurs
from India east through Polynesia. |
Family Asparagaceae
Cordyline fruticosa
UH Manoa, Oahu
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TI PLANT, CABBAGE PALM KI
Family
Piperaceae
Piper methysticum
UH Manoa |
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'AWA KAVA
Spreading shrub with thick jointed branches. Brought to Hawaii
by early setlers & cultivated in damp shaded lowlands. Roots
are pounded & mixed with water to create a narcotic ceremonial
drink.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kava |
Family Euphorbiaceae
Aleurites moluccana
Ho'omaluhia BG, Kane'ohe, Oahu
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CANDLENUT TREE KUKUI
Large tree with light green leaves found in mesic valleys. Brought to Hawaii by early Polynesian settlers.
Roasted nutmeat
eaten sparingly, used for torches, oil for lamps, medication, outer
shell for jewelry. Fruit husk & roots used for dye, wood for
building, latex sap for glue. Hawaii's official state tree. Native to Indo-Malaysia and widespread throughout the Pacific. |
Family Arecaceae
Cocos nucifera
Ke'ehi Park, Oahu
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COCONUT PALM NIU
Native to Indo-Malay region but now cultivated in the tropics
worldwide. Plant has a multitude of uses, including dried coconut
meat, or copra. Copra is still an important export from many
Pacific islands. Fresh coconut meat is eaten raw or grated to
yield coconut milk.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut |
Family
Clusiaceae
Calophyllum inophyllum
Ke'ehi Park, Oahu
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KAMANI ALEXANDRIAN LAUREL
Large coastal tree with rough flaky bark and dry spherical
fruit. Brought to Hawaii by early Polynesians for wood &
medicinal use. Native from East Africa to the Tuamotus. |
Family Convolvulaceae
Ipomoea batatas
UH Manoa Campus |
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SWEET POTATO VINE
'UALA
Native vine from South America widely cultivated in warm regions
worldwide. Sweet tuberous roots are an important food & feed
crop. Leaves & shoots are also eaten. First introduced
to Hawaii by Polynesian settlers and grown in hillside
terraces.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_potato
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Family Dioscoreaceae
Dioscorea bulbifera
Hoomaluhia, Kaneohe, Oahu |
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BITTER YAM HOI
Formerly cultivated strictly as famine food in mesic areas. Tubers are poisonous unless soaked in running water.
Native to
Tropical Africa & Asia. |
Dioscorea pentaphylla
Hoomaluhia, Kaneohe, Oahu |
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FIVE-LEAF YAM PI'A
Formerly cultivated in windward mesic valleys. Slightly
poisonous tubers are edible if soaked properly before cooking. Native to Tropical Asia & cultivated throughout Polynesia. |
Tacca leontopetaloides
Hui Ku Maoli Ola, Oahu |
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POLYNESIAN ARROWROOT PI'A
Introduced to Hawaii by early Polynesian settlers as source of starch.
Tubers are grated and rinsed many times to remove poison before drying.
Rarely found in cultivation. |
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Lagenaria siceraria
UH Manoa, Oahu
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BOTTLE or CALABASH GOURD, LONG SQUASH IPU
HYOTAN
Vine cultivated for large fruit harvested young as vegetable or
allowed to ripen into hard-shelled gourd made into calabashes &
musical implements. One of the earliest plants known to be in
cultivation throughout the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calabash
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Family Zingiberaceae
Curcuma longa
UH Manoa, Oahu
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TURMERIC 'OLENA
Cultivated throughout the Pacific in wet lowlands. Orange-fleshed rhizomes are boiled, dried, & ground to yield
turmeric powder. Used as spice, food color, dye, medicine. Native to India & SE Asia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turmeric
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Zingiber zerumbet
Kapi'olani Garden, Oahu |
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SHAMPOO GINGER AWAPUHI
Family
Boraginaceae
Cordia subcordata
UH Manoa, Oahu
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KOU
Medium tree with corrugated bark. Wood well-utilized for food
containers. Native to Indo-Malaysian region & cultivated
widely throughout the Pacific. |
Family Malvaceae
Thespesia populnea
Ke'ehi Park, Oahu
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PORTIA MILO
Common tree in sheltered coastal habitats. Wood & fiber was
used by Hawaiians, lending some to believe it was brought here by early
settlers. Native to Tropical Africa, Asia, Australia, &
Polynesia, and naturalized worldwide. |
Hibiscus tiliaceus
Kailua, Oahu
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Hoomaluhia, Kaneohe, Oahu
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HAU
Common tree in wet coastal & inland habitats. Sprawling
branches form impenetrable thickets. Several leaf & flower
varieties. Lightweight wood & strong fiber was used by
Hawaiians, lending some to believe it was brought here by early
settlers. Occurs in the tropics & subtropics worldwide.
Formerly known as Talipariti tiliaceus. |
Family
Myrtaceae
Syzygium malaccense
Ho'omaluhia BG, Kane'ohe, Oahu |
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MOUNTAIN APPLE 'OHI'A 'AI
Large tree naturalized in mesic lowlands &
valleys. Reddish-white fruits are crisp juicy, and sweet, produced
in great numbers during spring by fuchsia flowers borne on trunk and
branches.
Native to
SE Asia and widely cultivated in Polynesia, brought to Hawaii by early
settlers. |
Family Musaceae
Musa acuminata
Kona, Hawaii
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APPLE BANANA MAI'A
Bananas have been in cultivation for several thousand years. Native to northern Australia and cultivated in Hawaii.
Small
fruits are yellow and lack seeds. Polynesian colonists brought at
least two species represented by numerous cultivars that grow wild in
wet forests. Musa x paradisiaca has waxy green leaves and
fruiting stalk is pendant, while Musa troglodytarum has bright
green leaves and fruiting stalk that grows upright. Fruits are
reddish-orange with large seeds.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana |
Family Pandanaceae
Pandanus tectorius
Ho'omaluhia BG, Kane'ohe, Oahu
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PANDANUS HALA PU HALA
Clump-forming tree of coastal & lowland wet forests. Prop
roots give this plant a distinctive appearance. Male flowers are
borne in white bracts. A variety with yellow striped
leaves lacking spines is popular in large gardens. Most parts were used by
islanders. Leaves have a variety of uses including mats, hats,
baskets, and home building. Native from Indonesia east throughout Melanesia,
Micronesia, & Polynesia including Hawaii. Brought to Hawaii by early
Polynesians in addition to natural dispersal by floating seeds. |
Family Moraceae
Artocarpus altilis
UH Manoa, Oahu
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BREADFRUIT ULU
Large tree with large dissected leaves & milky sap. Starchy
fruit an important staple in many Pacific cultures. Native to the
Malay peninsula & widely cultivated throughout the Pacific.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breadfruit |
Broussonetia papyrifera
UH Manoa, Oahu |
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PAPER MULBERRY WAUKE
Spindly tree with sandpapery leaves found in mesic valleys along
streams. Brought to Hawaii by Polynesian settlers to produce bark
to make high-quality Kapa cloth. Propagated from cuttings
since it does not produce fruit in Hawaii. Native to China and
widely cultivated throughout the Pacific. |
Family Rubiaceae
Morinda citrifolia
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UH Manoa, Oahu
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INDIAN MULBERRY NONI
Small tree found in coastal areas, lava fields, dry, and mesic
forests. Brought to Hawaii by early Polynesian settlers and
now naturalized. Foul-smelling bitter fruit is used medicinally,
roots & bark for dye. Noni juice is touted as a homeopathic
remedy. One fruit contains roughly half the Vitamin C of an Orange
(I'd choose the orange).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noni |
Family
Oxalidaceae
Oxalis corniculata
Waimanalo, Oahu
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YELLOW WOOD SORREL 'IHI 'AI
Common prostrate herb in disturbed habitats at any elevation. Worldwide distribution. |
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