When the first Polynesians arrived in
the Hawaiian Islands centuries ago, there were no coconut palms here. There were no mountain apple, breadfruit, kalo, olena and many other plants we think of as Hawaiian.
If you think that kukui, bananas and ti are natives and seem to grow easily, then it is time to rethink! These plants are alien, nonnative species brought to Hawaii by the Polynesians as they migrated across Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean.
These are referred to as canoe plants. They were important to the survival, especially when Polynesians explored new islands and found those like Hawaii lacked the variety of fruits and medicinal plants they needed.
For example, our state tree, the kukui, originated in what is now Indonesia, it is believed. Our state tree probably should be the loulu palm because it is endemic. That is, it found only in Hawaii. Of course, there are exceptions to this.
Four species of the genus are found in the South Pacific. Two species were only recently discovered.
The Hawaiian loulu palms actually evolved here and are found growing naturally only in Hawaii.
At one time, there may have been many dozens of species, but with the introduction of the Polynesian rat and pig, many must have perished. Later introduction of grazing animals did further damage.
Pritchardia maideniana is rarely found in the wild and only occasionally in the landscape. The most common types are the two introduced species from the south Pacific.
These are Pritchardia thurstonii and Pritchardia pacifica.
“Thurston’s loulu” is noted for flower clusters up to six feet long. Pritchardia pacifica has very large leaves that were used in the old days as sunshades and umbrellas. These species are adapted to dry coastal locations.
The Kona loulu palms prefer sunny dryer locations, but has been grown at elevations as high as 3,000 feet.
The other rare one is named after George Schattauer, Kona kamaaina. A few trees are found above Kaohe, Honomalino and Hookena. This species and Pritchardia beccariana from Stainback Highway near Volcano are being distributed on the Big Island. The latter is a spectacular rainforest palm with leaves almost six feet across. It prefers moist locations with wind protection.
Many species have been tested at Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary in Kaloko Mauka, North Kona and at Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in South Kona.
When it comes to the canoe plants, many are tough and easy to grow.
It’s important to the survival of many of these beautiful species to use them in our gardens. The hala tree or Pandanus is a good example as is the noni, Morinda citrifolia.
Both will tolerate dry, windy and salty conditions.
Actually, the hala may be a native specie or possibly a Polynesian introduction. Taxonomists and ethnobotanists are still trying to figure that one’s origin.
The mountain apple, Syzygium malaccense, also called ohi‘a ai‘ is not often seen in modern gardens, but around old home sights in wetter parts of the islands, it can be found growing wild.
The cerise, pompom like flowers, appear on the branches and trunk. The fruit is about the size of a medium tomato, bell shaped. It has a thin deep crimson skin with crisp white flesh and one seed. The seed is easy to grow and becomes a small tree you may then plant in your garden. Given many years the tree can become large but is easy to prune and kept small. There is also a variety that has white flowers and fruit, but is rare because it seldom produces a seed. It must be grafted on the common form.
Remember, if folks begin to show more interest in native trees and Polynesian introductions, our nurseries can then afford to carry them as part of their regular stock.
County and state buildings and roadways are ideal for them, since most do not have aggressive root systems.
With the Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening project, wouldn’t it be great to see the median strip landscaped with native loulu palms, kamani, naupaka and other native and canoe species? These canoe plants and many native plants should be used instead of grass that requires much more maintenance and water.
Norman Bezona is professor emeritus, University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.
