Maiÿa Musax paradisica Polynesian Introduced Kinolau: Kanaloa. The banana tree, is actually a herbaceous perennial, an oversized herb. It can grow from 6 ft. to almost 30 ft. tall depending on the variety. Most of the Hawaiian Maiÿa fall into three groupings: o Pöpöÿulu group (pictured) are characterized by having short stubby fruit; there are 4 named varieties. o Maoli group have large, long fruit with rounded ends; there are 11 named varieties. o Iholena group have maroon undersides on new leaves and fruit with orange color meat within. Maiÿa häpai, is an anomaly where the fruit develop within the trunk of the tree resulting in a bulge similar to that of a häpai (pregnant) woman. When the fruit ripens the trunk splits open revealing the fruit inside. Ka Hoÿohana ÿana: Primarily cultivated as a food source, there are over 70 named varieties of Maiÿa developed, many of which no longer exist today. The Mai a was used for many religious and ceremonial purposes: The fruit was offered on small shrines (unu) for the gods, The Lele variety was often used in ceremony because Lele means to fly and Lele Mai a used as an offering was thought to fly in essence to the intended receiver. The leaves served as covering fort the earth oven (imu). Trunks of felled banana plants were formerly used as canoe rollers. ÿike Pili: Women were forbidden to eat most varieties of Mai a. Although, there were a few types that could be eaten: Kaualau, Iholena, and Pöpö ulu varieties. In some fishing traditions, it was kapu (forbidden) to bring Mai a aboard a canoe or fishing. The logic for this belief related to the reason that many Mai a references and metaphors had unfavorable connotations alluding to deficiencies, emptiness, loss and even death. Mai a was offered during ceremonies to make fish multiply at fishing ko a (shrines) built along the shore. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 5 72
Maiapilo Capparis sandwichiana Endemic Naturally found on the coast of all the main Hawaiian Islands and some of the Northwestern Islands. Ka Inoa ÿë Aÿe: ÿawalauaneakäne A small sprawling shrub with soft, light-green leaves, fragrant white flowers, and brittle stems. These are night blooming flowers which usually open up in the early evening and by mid-morning the next day they are wilted. Once pollinated, small cucumber-like fruit 2-4 in. in length begin to develop. The fruit is filled with a bright-orange pulp and numerous small, brownish-black seeds. Ka Hoÿohana ÿana: The sappy milk is used to treat hëhë (boils, weeping sores, ulcers). 73
Maile Alyxia oliviformis Endemic Today, this endemic plant is still fairly common in dry to mesic forests on all the main Hawaiian Islands except Kaho olawe and Ni ihau. Kinolau: Laka Nä Hi ohi ona: Shrubby lianas that often twine like a vine, but are more shrub-like in appearance. The leaves are highly variable in size, shape, and color ranging from dark to fairly light-green. The flowers, which are very small, number 3-5 in a cluster and range from light green to creamy yellow. Once these flowers are pollinated they form green fruits that turn dark-purple to black when ripe and are very glossy. Ka Ho ohana Ana: The new growth of Maile is used to make fragrant lei. Ike Pili: Hawaiians recognized the variable shapes and scents of Maile and created names to describe them: Maile Ha i Wale brittle Maile Maile Lau Li i small-leaved Maile Maile Lau Nui large-leaved Maile Maile Kaluhea sweet Maile Maile Päkaha blunt-leaved Maile Ma Kawaiaha o: Mäla 74
Makaloa Cyperus laevigatus Indigenous Naturally found in coastal areas and along the margins of ponds and marshes on the islands of Ni ihau, Kaua i, O ahu, Moloka i, Maui, Hawai i and Laysan in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Nä Hi ohi ona: A small rounded sedge with narrow culms approximately 2 ft. tall ending in a sharp point. The flowers are small spikelets about 1-2 in. from the tip. They protrude out from the side and are light brown-grey in color. Ka Ho ohana Ana: This plant can be used to plait fine mats and hats. During his travels throughout the Pacific, author Robert Louis Stevenson, wrote that there were no mats finer than the makaloa mats of Hawaiÿi. Ölelo No eau: Ma Kawaiaha o: Pua i Wai He pe e makaloa. A hider among makaloa sedge. A stingy person who keeps his eyes downcast while eating lest he see a passerby and be obliged to call him to come and share the meal. 75
Mämaki Pipterus albidus Endemic Naturally found on all of the main Hawaiian Islands except Kaho olawe and Ni ihau. Nä Hi ohi ona: Large shrubs or small trees 5-15 ft. It has broad light-green leaves with whitish undersides and green, pink, or reddish colored veins. The flowers develop into white mulberry-like fruit. A single plant can have hundreds of fruit at a time and each fruit contains many tiny brown seeds from which new plants will develop. Ka Ho ohana Ana: Today as well as in the past, Mämaki is commonly used to make a mild and healthy tea. The berry can be used for treating ea (thrush) and as a laxative. The root and bark was used to ease childbirth and for its anti-viral properties beneficial to both mother and child. A courser kind of kapa was made from the Mämaki bark when the more preferred wauke was not available. The long fibers were used for rope and cordage. Ma Kawaiaha o: Mäla 76
Mänele Sapindus saponaria Indigenous Naturally occurs in dry to mesic forests on Hawaiÿi. Ka Inoa ÿë Aÿe: Aÿe, Hawaiian Soapberry A tall deciduous tree, growing up to 80 ft. in height. The pale brown bark of mature trees falls off in large patches. The upper surface of the leaves is shiny-green with a fuzzy underside. Ka Hoÿohana ÿana: The seeds are used to make lei. The wood was formally used for digging sticks and spears. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 4 77
Maÿo Gossypium tomentosum Endemic Naturally found on all of the main Hawaiian Islands except Hawaiÿi in dry, rocky coastal sites up to about 300 ft. in elevation. Nä Inoa ÿë Aÿe: Huluhulu, Hawaiian Cotton Shrubs that can reach heights of 3-4 ft. with pale-green palmate leaves which have a light covering of silvery hairs called tomentose. Bright-yellow flowers open in the morning and close by the next day. After the flowers are pollinated, they develop into hard seed capsules about an inch in diameter. When the capsules become ripe, they dry up and crack open to reveal the smalllight brown cotton balls within. Ka Hoÿohana ÿana: Primarily used to make dye. Green-colored dye comes from the leaves, hence the name maÿo (green). Yellow-colored dye can be made from the flowers. It can be used to treat stomach ache. Maÿo flowers can also be used in lei. Unlike commercial cotton of contemporary times, this cotton has short hairs making it unfavorable for use as cotton. 78
Maÿo Hau Hele Hibiscus brackenridgei Endemic Naturally found on all the main Hawaiian Islands except Kahoÿolawe. Nä Hi ohi ona: This shrub can grow up to 10 ft. It has broad, maple-like leaves and bright-yellow hibiscus flowers. Ma o Hau Hele is the only species of yellow hibiscus that can be called Hawai i s state flower, all other yellow hibiscus are not. Ike Pili: The name of this plant - Ma o Hau Hele literally means the traveling green hau. Oftentimes the plant will become top heavy and either lean over or fall over and sprout new roots where the leaning branches touch the ground. Over time, if the plant continues to flop over and sprout new roots it can move quite some distance, thus giving this plant its name. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 2 Ma Kawaiaha o: Mäla 79
Mäÿoliÿoli Schidea globosa Endemic Naturally found on Oÿahu, Molokaÿi, and Maui, usually on sea cliffs or exposed rock faces. Nä Inoa ÿë Aÿe: Laulihilihi Low growing plants with narrow leaves. It produces tiny flowers that form a rounded sunburst cluster that protrudes above the plant. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 6 80
Mauÿu ÿakiÿaki Fimbristylis cymosa Indigenous Naturally found on all the Hawaiian Islands in the coastal strand zones, usually in rocky areas but sometimes in sand. This is a type of native sedge that forms short, rounded tufts up to 10 in. high. It has light-green foliage with narrow, erect blades that are very stiff. When flowering, a cluster of brown spikelets form on a taller stem that rises slightly above the rest of the plant. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 3 81
Milo Thespesia populnea Polynesian Introduction Naturally found in coastal areas up to 1,500 ft. elevation on all the main Hawaiian Islands. A medium-sized tree up to 30 ft. tall with fairly dark-green, heart-shaped leaves and bright-yellow hibiscus flowers. Once pollinated these flowers develop into dark-brown seed pods that hang from the tree like cherries. Inside the seed pods are numerous hairy-brown seeds about a ½ in. across. Ka Hoÿohana ÿana: Milo flowers can be used to make lei. The wood is used for making numerous household items as well as for construction. The flowers and the leaves can be used to make dye. The leaves make a green dye and the flowers make a yellow dye. ÿölelo Noÿeau: He milo ka läÿau, mimilo ke aloha. Milo is the plant; love goes round and round. Said of the milo tree when its leaves, blossoms or seeds were used by kahuna who practices hana aloha (love magic). Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 4 82
Moa Psilotum nudum Indigenous Naturally found on all the main Hawaiian Islands. Tufted, green, leafless plant. Closely related to the ferns, Moa do not produce flowers, only spores. It has many short-green branches covered with numerous bright-yellow spore sacs. It forms dense clumps up to 2 ft. tall and can grow on a variety of surfaces including rock crevices, tree trunks, recent lava flows, and pots with other plants. Ka Hoÿohana ÿana: Moa can be used to make lei. Children would play a game called moa nahele with the branch stems. Twigs of the Moa were interlocked and the players pulled on the ends. The losers twig broke and the winner crowed like a rooster. (Hawaiian Dictionary, p. 248) The yellow spores were also used as talcum powder and under the loincloth to prevent chafing. Moa can be used to make a tea. The spore powder was used as a purge. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 3 83
Naio Myoporum sandwicense Indigenous Naturally found on all the main Hawaiian Islands except Kahoÿolawe. Nä Inoa ÿë Aÿe: Naeo, Naieo, False Sandalwood Fairly large shrub that varies in growth depending on the region: In coastal localities they can grow to about 8-10 ft tall. In upper dry forests and subalpine regions they can grow 50-80 ft. tall. It has glossy dark-green, glabrous leaves from 1-8 in. long and about 1-2 in. wide. Small, whitish-pink flowers about a ½ in. in diameter emit a spicy-sandalwood fragrance, hence the name False Sandalwood. Once pollinated the flowers develop into small fleshy white fruit of about the same size containing a single hard seed. Ka Hoÿohana ÿana: The sweet-scented, hard wood of this plant is used in the construction of houses, spears and smaller utensils. The wood can be used as a fish net spacer, gauge used for making meshes in nets (haha kä upena). (Hawaiian Dictionary, p. 46). Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 3 84
Naio Papa Myoporum sandwicense Indigenous Naturally found only on the coast of Ka Lae on Hawaiÿi Island. Naio Papa is a crawling ground cover with dark-green, glossy leaves. Tiny white flower clusters emerge from the leaf axis and stems. It has round white fruit that is up to a ¼ in. in size. When in season, hundreds of these tiny fruit can be seen dangling from the underside of each stem. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 4 85
Nanea Vigna mariana Indigenous Naturally found on all the main Hawaiian Islands except Länaÿi and Kahoÿolawe. Nä Inoa ÿë Aÿe: Nenea, Mohihihi, Pühili, Pühilihili, Pülihilihi, Wahineÿömaÿo, Lemuomakili and ÿökolemakili, Beach Pea. An herbaceous plant that is woody at the base. It can either crawl along the ground or grow up a fence or trellis. One leaf is composed of 3 oval leaflets about 3 in. in length. Each leaflet is attached to very long running stems. It has pea type flowers which are bright-yellow, about an inch wide and are arranged in clusters of 1-6 flowers. Once pollinated, pods develop with 2-10 small, reddish-brown seeds that are about a ¼ in. long. Ka Hoÿohana ÿana: The flowers and seeds can be used in lei. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 3 86
Näÿü Gardenia brighamii Endemic Once believed to have existed on all the main Hawaiian Islands in the dry forest, näÿü are now restricted to populations on O ahu, Moloka i, Läna i, and Maui with some existing 15-20 plants left in the wild. Nä Inoa Ë A e: Nänü, Hawaiian Gardenia Nä Hi ohi ona: A large shrub or small tree 4-12 ft. tall (some of the few natural plants are about 20 ft. tall) with light-green leaves and light-tan trunk. Small flowers about 2 in. across resemble a Puakenikeni flower in petal shape rather than a Gardenia. Once the flowers are pollinated, a large green fruit about the size of a golf ball forms. Inside the ripe fruit, a brilliant yellow-orange pulp surrounds a hard seed capsule filled with an even brighter, richer yellow orange pulp that houses around 100 seeds. Ka Ho ohana Ana: The yellow-orange pulp found within the seed capsule was highly valued for making a rich yellow dye for ali i (chiefs). The unique color was called nä ü after the plant. The color of the nä ü dye resembles the color of the setting sun. Näÿü was also the name of a game played by children when the sun was setting. They would start off the word näÿü when the bottom part of the sun hit the horizon and whoever could hold it (na uuuuuuuuuuu.) the longest was the winner. The light colored wood was also used for making house posts for people of high status and the fragrant flowers are also strung into lei. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 4 Ma Kawaiaha o: Mäla 87
Naupaka Kuahiwi Scaevola gaudichaudii Endemic Naturally found on all the main Hawaiian Islands except Ni ihau and Kaho olawe. Nä Inoa Ë A e : Mountain Naupaka Nä Hi ohi ona: A small shrub 3-4 ft. tall with narrow leaves about 2-3 in. long and 1½ in. wide. The leaf margins are slightly serrated. A feature of this native plant is its fragrant yellow half flowers. This particular species has the most narrow and pointed petals of the 9 Naupaka varieties. It is also one of only two yellow-flowered species of Naupaka. Once the flowers are pollinated, small black fruit develop within a single seed. Ka Ho ohana Ana: The flowers of various Naupaka Kuahiwi are used in lei. Medicinally, the leaf can be used for lacerations and the bark for skin lesions and diarrhea. Ike Pili: A popular mo olelo (story) explains the half-shaped flowers as being two young lovers whose families did not consent with them being together. In their sadness for having been separated, the girl became one half of a flower on the Naupaka Kahakai (beach naupaka) and the boy became the other half of the flower on the Naupaka Kuahiwi in the mountains. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 4 Ma Kawaiha o: Mäla 88
Naupaka Papa Scaevola coriacea Endemic; Endangered This endangered plant was formerly found on sand dunes and rocky coastlines of all the main Hawaiian Islands, except Kahoÿolawe. This plant is now restricted to a small population on Maui and on off-shore islets of both Maui and Molokaÿi. Nä Inoa ÿë Aÿe: Dwarf Naupaka A slow growing prostrate ground cover no more than 6 in. tall with succulent, glossy, dark-green leaves and typical Naupaka half flowers. Once pollinated, its flowers turn into small-black fruit, about a ¼ - ½ in. across, each containing a single seed. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 3 89
Nehe Wollastonia integrifolia syn. Lipochaeta integrifolia Endemic Naturally found on the coastlines of all the main Hawaiian Islands as well as Kure Atoll and Laysan in the Northwestern Islands. A crawling ground cover 3-6 in. tall that is herbaceous at the tips with rigid leaves and a semi-woody base. It also has silvery-green foliage and numerous bright-yellow, miniature sunflowers. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 3 90
Neke Cyclosorus interruptus Indigenous Naturally found on all the larger Hawaiian Islands in wet marshy areas like Kawainui (Ko olaupoko, O ahu) or on the margins of estuaries and streams. Nä Inoa Ë A e: Marsh Fern Nä Hi ohi ona: Medium-sized ferns about 2 ft. tall with light green fronds and creeping rhizomes. Each frond is comprised of 20 or so evenly spaced pairs of pinnae (small frondlets). The rhizomes are covered in small brown hairs. Ka Ho ohana Ana: The fronds, especially the pinnae, can be used to make lei. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 3 Ma Kawaiaha o: Mäla 91
Nohu Tribulus cistoides Indigenous Naturally occurs in coastal and maritime habitats on all of the main Hawaiian Islands except Necker. Nä Inoa ÿë Aÿe: Nohunohu A low, sprawling shrub that branches out about 3 ft. long. Its pinnate leaves are oblong to elliptical in shape and are about 1 3 in. in length. The bright, 5-petaled, yellow flowers, 1 in. across, grow on flower stalks from the leaf axis. It has spiny fruit. Ma Keanakamanö: Zone 5 & 6 92