This saying is connected to times of famine and death, and goes as follows: There is a Hawaiian proverb that mentions the hāpu‘u. The pulu (silky hairs) were used to absorb bodily fluids of deceased people and the trunk of a large specimen can be used as a container for uhi (yam) plants. Applications range from blood purifier to returning loss of appetite, against muscle pains, to make weak persons stronger and to mitigate chest pains. (see also the proverb explained below) Medicine:ĭifferent parts of the Hāpuʻu were used by the Hawaiians as medicine. We have never tried it but since the Hawaiians only ate Hāpuʻu in times of famine, its taste cannot have been that good. The core of the fern is starchy and can be cooked. Next to their esthetic value Hāpuʻu ferns have a couple of good uses: Food: One of the best places to see them (and to get that Jurassic park vibe) is in the rainforests of Volcano Village or in the adjacent Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. There used to be Hāpuʻu all over the Hawaiian islands but due to population pressure and their transplantation for landscaping purposes they are becoming more difficult to find. The ferns are native to Hawai’i and can most easily be spotted at the windward (east) side of al Hawaiian islands at elevations between 1000 to 6000 ft (300 to 1800 meters). This fern is what gives many places on Hawaii such a distinct “Jurassic park” feel. The Hāpuʻu ( Cibotium menziesii) or Hawaiian tree fern is very common on the Hawaiian islands and can grow up to heights of 40 ft (12 meters).
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