Map Endemic achyranthes* ‘äma‘u älula* ‘äwikiwiki bonamia* Clay's Hibiscus* cyperus cyperus sedge eugenia häpu‘u kauila* ko‘oloa‘ula* koa kulu‘ï kupukupu lama loulu palm ma‘o mämaki nänü* ‘ohai (shrub) * ‘ohai (tree) * ‘öhia lehua white hibiscus   Indigenous alahe‘e hinahina ‘ilie‘e ‘ilima kou laua‘e fern naio palapalai pili grass pöhinahina ‘uki‘uki ‘ülei variegated hau   Polynesian Introduced coconut kalo kukui red ginger red ti leaf ti leaf sugar cane ulu   Introduced cotton cup of gold eucalyptus heliconia hibiscus manila palm monstera octopus tree pink tecoma plumbago plumeria tangerine wiliwili     *endangered species

Common Name Candle Nut Tree Hawaiian Name Kukui Scientific Name Aleurites moluccana Pictures Stairs by Learning Center Whole Plant Leaves Fruit Flowers Stem In front of Kaiona Roots Different types of leaves Location On Campus In front of Kaiona, room 55 and on the left side stairs when walking towards the Learning Center. Natural Habitat This plant is found on all islands, usually in valleys and gulches up to 500 meters in elevation. It's also found in moist tropical regions. Cultural Information Kukui was brought here by the Polynesians to Hawaii. It is the state tree of Hawai‘i. In the days of old Hawai‘i the oil was used for candles and this tree made many colors for dye. The colors varied from copper, to red, to black for laying onto kapa. Folk medicines were made from the raw nut and sap. This tree was the most important for the Hawaiians. Every part of the plant was used for different purposes. Plant Description Roots: Used for black dye and medicine Brown in color Tap root Found close to or on the surface of the ground Stem: Bark used for red dye, medicine Woody stem Hard, strong, and rigid Grows straight up and branch out at the top Can reach up to 18 m high and 12.5 cm in diameter Leaves: Used for leis, medicine Waxy leaf tips Green in color Pinnate venation Lobed margin Simple leaf About 12.5 - 20 cm long Rough texture Flowers: Used to heal cold sores inside the mouth Small and whitish yellow in color 5 petals Fruit: Used for healing constipation A Dry fruit Contains 1 nut Has fibrous husk Green in color Round Soft meat inside Meat is moist Seeds: Used in oil lanterns, leis, food, medicines Black and as it rots turns white and disintegrates Meat is found in the inside of the nut Outside is hard and solid It is bumpy and sort of rigid Only one seed inside the fruit Pollinators: Male and female flowers are in 1 cluster Insects are attracted by the flowers Can be self pollinated Propagation/ Cultivation:  Soak seeds in hot water 5 minutes before planting Takes 4 months to germinate Interesting Facts: Oil of the white kernels is/was extracted for use in stone lamps and in ti leaf torches Shelled nuts were put onto amid-rib of a coconut husk (frond) and lit one by one, from the top to bottom, they were set into container of sand or dirt Food, a small amount of the pounded roasted nuts, plus salt and sometimes chili peppers, is used as a relish and is called Inamona White flowers were chewed by the parents of a young child and given to the child to aid in healing of thrush sores inside the mouth Bad cases of ulcers and other skin sores, the baked meat of ripe kukui nuts would do the thing Wood of the tree trunk was carved into canoes Web Site Links  Hawaiian Plant Research Project: Kukui This site describes the habitat and cultural information of the kukui tree. Canoe Plants of Ancient Hawai‘i: Kukui This site tells about the uses of the different parts of the kukui tree.  Ethnobotany of the Ahupua‘a: Kukui This site explains about the stem, leaves, flowers, and fruit that are a part of the kukui. References Canoe Plants of Ancient Hawai'i: Kukui. Nelda Quensell K., KCC Web Team. 1999, 2000. Kapi'olani Community College 13 March 2000 <http://apdl.kcc.hawaii.edu/~ahupuaa/botany/other/kukui.htm> Ethnobotany to the Ahupua'a: Kukui. Nelda Quensal K., KCC Web Team. 1999, 2000. Kapi'olani Community College. 13 March 2003 <http://apdl.kcc.hawaii.edu/~ahupuaa/botany/other/kukui.htm> Green, Peter S. A Hawaiian Florigium. Lawa'i: National Tropical Botanical Garden, 1996. Hawaiian Plant Research Project: Kukui. Ariel and Nick, 13 March 2003 <http://www.k12.hi.us/~sdrown/plantweb/kukui.htm>  Kepler, Angela Kay. Hawaiian Heritage Plants. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 1998.  Krauss, Beatrice H. Plants in Hawaiian Medicine. Honolulu: The Bess Press, 2001 Pacific Island Ecosystem at Risk (PIER):Aluerites mollucana. Wild, Euphorbieaceae, 13 March 2003 <http://www.hear.org/pier/almol.htm> Return to Top

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