AALII (Dodonaea viscosa)
Fruit clusters can be made into leis and used for dying kapa. The strong wood can be used in house construction, agricultural tools, weapons, and fishing tools such as squid spears and lures.
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AHUAWA (Cyperus javanicus)
Fiber stripped from the stem can be used to strain awa and also spun into cord.
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AKIA (Wikstroemia uva-ursi)
The bark, roots, and leaves are a fish poison. Bark also yields a fiber.
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AKIAKI (Sporobolus virginicus)
A coarse grass growing on sandy beaches.
Used to exorcise spirits.
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ALENA (Boerhavia repens)
The swollen roots were used medicinally, acting as a diuretic.
The tuberous root was also eaten as a famine food.
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ANAPANAPA (Colubrina asiatica)
The leaves form a lather in water and have long been used as soap on Pacific islands.
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AWEOWEO (Chenopodium oahuense)
The young plants, leaves, and plant tips can be used for greens, wrapped in ti leaves and cooked on hot coals.
The wood was used to make fish hooks.
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EMOLOA (Eragostis variabilis)
Used as a thatching grass.
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HALA (Pandanus tectorius)
Many uses including the leaves for mats, baskets, and hats
; the fruit sections for leis and brushes
; the male flowers to scent kapa, and the aerial root tip cooked in ti leaves as medicine.
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HAU (Hibiscus tiliaceus)
Wood can be used for outriggers on canoes, the bast for rope, and the sap and flowers for medicine.
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HINAHINA (Heliotropium anomalum)
Used for tea and medicine.
The lei flower of Kahoolawe.
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ILIAHI ALOE (Santalum ellipticum)
Shrub and tree with fragrant heartwood that was used to scent kapa.
The wood is also used in canoe construction.
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ILIMA (Sida fallax)
Flower used in leis, the lei flower of Oahu.
A mild laxative is made by squeezing out the juices of the flowers.
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KAUNAOA (Cuscuta sandwichiana)
The numerous slender orange stems can be made into orange lei, which is the lei flower of Lanai.
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KOALI AWA (Ipomoea indica)
When pounded the bitter-tasting stems and roots are used externally for bruises and broken bones
, but are dangerous to take internally.
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KOU (Cordia subcordata)
The beautiful wood is soft but lasting.
It can be used for cups, dishes, and calabashes.
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LOULU (Pritchardia spp.)
Hats can be made from the leaves.
The leaf can also be used as an umbrella to protect against rain or sun.
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MAKALOA (Cyperus laevigatus)
The stems of the plants can be used to make the fine Niihau mats.
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MAO (Gossypium tomentosum)
Leaves can be used to make green dye and the flower petals to make yellow dye.
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MILO (Thespesia populnea)
Many using including tree for shade, wood for calabashes, and other parts of the tree for medicine,dye, oil, and gum.
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NAIO
(Myoporum sandwicense)
Dark yellow-green wood, scented like sandalwood.
Used as posts in house construction and as fishing tools.
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NAUPAKA (Scaevola taccada)
The bark can be used to treat skin diseases.
The leaves can be used for indigestion.
The berries are edible.
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NIU (Cocos nucifera)
All parts of the tree can be used.
The "nut" provides food and water.
The leaves can be weaved.
The wood can be carved.
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OHELO KAI (Lycium sandwicense)
The salty berries are sometimes eaten.
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PAU O HIIAKA (Jacquemontia ovalifolia)
Stems and leaves used as a cathartic and for treating thrush.
The vine that protected Hiiaka from the sun while Pele was fishing.
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POHINAHINA (Vitex rotundifolia)
The leaves are fragrant.
Can be used medicinally.
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POHUEHUE (Ipomoea pes-caprae)
The vines can be used to drive fish into nets or to make the sea rough for surfing.
The roots, stems, and seeds can be used for medicine, though poisonous in large amounts.
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POPOLO (Solanum americanum)
The young shoots and leaves can be eaten as greens.
The plant can be used for medicine and ceremonies.
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UHALOA (Waltheria indica)
Leaves and inner bark of root are very bitter and are used for tea or chewed to relieve sore throat.
One of the plant forms of the pig demigod Kamapuaa.
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WILIWILI (Erythrina sandwicensis)
Seeds and flowers used for leis.
Wood very light and used for surfboards, canoe outriggers, and net floats.
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OHAI (Sesbania tomentosa)
An endangered species. Known only from a few spots in the wild on Maui.
The Kanaha Beach plants come from remnant plants on West Maui.
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POPOLO (Solanum nelsonii)
Extinct on Maui. Kanaha Beach plants come from remnant plants at Ilio Pt., Molokai.
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IHI (Portulaca molokiniensis)
An rare native species. Plants at Kanaha Beach are from plants on molokini.
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BACOPA (Bacopa monnieri)
Common in the freshwater wetlands at Kanaha Beach.
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HAO (Rauvolfia sandwicensis)
Coastal tree.
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ILIEE (Plumbago zeylanica)
Native understory herb.
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