Ki, 'ulu, and Kukui Uses

Our group decided to split up some of the work by each choosing three plants to cover. I chose Ti (Ki) (Cordyline Fruticosa), Breadfruit ('ulu) (Artocarpus altilis), and Candlenut (kukui) (Aluerites moluccana).

Here are some notes I have taken from Isabella Abbot's book La'au Hawai'i and a document called Ulu mau, which Dane shared with us from a La'au class he took on the big island.

Ti: Ti leaves were used as wrappers  in the preparation of food. The leaves were wrapped around food while it was cooked in an imu. In medicine they were also used as hot packs by placing hot stones in the ti leaves. They worked very well for wrapping things up due to their waxy epidermis.

‘ulu (Breadfruit) (Artocarpus altilis)

Does not fruit as abundantly in Hawaii compared to other Polynesian islands.
Breadfruit was a form or kinolau of the god Ku.
Breadfruit is typically 2-7 pounds and  just one can feed a group of people.
In Hawaii ripens between May and October
a tool called a lou was reported to be used to pick breadfruit by Hawaiians, the tool consisted of a long piece of wood with another piece of wood shaped like a hook, attached at the end.
In pre-Contact times, Hawaiians would cook the ‘ulu fruit in an imu and make poi, in similar fasion to the preparation of kalo.
Today, ‘ulu fruit is prepared by boiling it.
piepiele ‘ulu: ripe, soft ‘ulu fruit mashed with coconut cream, placed in a ti leaf and baked in an imu.
‘ulu was also simply consumed by eating chunks that had been cooked in an imu or over open flame/coals.

(Abbot, 35, 100-101)

Kukui as Medicine:

• All parts of the plant used as a laxative.
• leaves used in poulstices for swelling or deep bruising.
• Mashed, roasted kukui nuts were used for external sores and ulcers.
• Charcoal from the shell would be consumed for sore throats.
• Today: Kukui nut is still used for skin problems and is found in many commercial lotions.
• Abscess. Broil immature nuts. Pound with ÿulu sap & ÿahuÿawa or lama powder, eliminating lumps.
• Asthma, Use juice of bark.
• Backache, bind area with leaves. 
• Birth laceration, apply warm oil. 
• Bladder problems. (sore urination) Chew meat from 32 nuts before placing in water. Strain before drinking. 
• Bruise, contusion, & swelling, Apply fresh leaves as poultice. 
• Chapped lips, chicken pox, cold sore, halitosis, measles, shingles, & sunburn, Apply sap. 
• Constipation, Bake dried nut, Crush with paÿakai, Eat with meals. 
• Cramp, Chew 4 nuts before placing in warm water, Drink, cut, (deep) Mash nut before adding paÿakai, Apply. 
• Dry skin, Apply oil.
• Headache, Chew nut before placing in water, Apply to head. 
• High blood pressure, Eat 1 teaspoon of ground roasted kernels. 
• Rheumatism, Boil shelled kernels, Pound with paÿakai before broiling in läÿï, Apply. stiffness, Bind 4-5 leaves overnight. 
• Sore throat. 1. Gargle sap. 2. Chew flowers. thrush. 1. Masticate flowers. 2. Apply sap to mouth & tongue. 
• Tonsillitis, Chew flowers. 
• Ulcer. Pound baked nut with ripe noni.

'ulu medicinal uses:

• Abscess, boil, cut, peeling skin, & rash, Apply sap. 
• Broken bone, Apply bark to affected area, Bind to place with koali ÿawa. 
• Cramps., Use with kö kea & koali. 
• Deafness, Use sap mixed with pöpolo juice.
• Sore, Mix sap with ÿahuÿawa powder, and 8 unripe kukui nuts, Broil in läÿï, Pound with lama powder, Apply 2x/day until healed. 
• Thrush, Use leaf buds. 
• Ulcer (stomach), Use sap.

From Ulu Mau Plant List

Our group also made this table from Ulu Mau and added in some info that we found on other sites.

Plant	Species	Role as Food	Role as Medicine
Kalo (poi)	Colocasia esculenta	Principle carbohydrate, baby food, dessert	Stomach health, burn salve, blood coagulant, health maintenance [1]
ʻuala (Sweet Potato)	Ipomoea batatas	Carbohydrate
Mamaki	Pipturus albidus	Beverage	General disease preventative [5]
Niu (Coconut)	Cocos nucifera	Beverage, oil, dessert, supplimentary item
ʻUlu (Breadfruit)	Artocarpus altilis	Carbohydrate	Skin problems, Broken Bones.
Kukuʻi (Breadfruit)	Allurites mollucana	Spice (inamona), oil, mixed with sea salt.	Skin problems internal and external. Many more.
Pia (Arrowroot)	Tacca leontopetaloides	Thickening Agent	Blood coagulant, anti-diarrheal [4]
Limu (seaweed)	Various spp.	Spice, texture	Rheumatism, Source of Vitamins and minerals [2,4]
Tī / KĪ	Cordyline fruticosa	Food prep, starch	Dressing, poultice, wound compress, head/body aches. [5]