Hala or ScrewpinePandanaceae (Screwpine family)Indigenous to the Hawaiian IslandsOahu (Cultivated)This is a thornless form not native to the Hawaiian islands.The aerial root tips called "scales," were pounded, juice strained and heated by early Hawaiians. They were mixed with eucalyptus in a ploulou (steam bath) to treat colds. A mixture of aerial roots with k (sugar cane) and other plants was used as a tonic for mothers weakened by child birth. The mixture was also given for chest pains. When mixed with other plants, the roots were used in urinary tract infections, low energy and red eyes. The tips are said to be rich in vitamin B.The keys (fruits) of the form hala pia were used medicinally.Polynesian Names for Female Tree: Ara (Cooks, Mangareva); Ara tai (Cooks); Ara taatai (Cooks); Balawa (Fiji); F (Niue, Tonga, Uvea); Faa (Southern Marquesas); Fala (Futuna, Samoa, Tokelau, Tuvalu); Fara Societies, Tuamotus); Fasa (Samoa); Haa (Northern Marquesas); Hala or Hala hua (Hawaii); Vadra (Fiji)Polynesian Names for Male Tree:Higano (Tokelau, Uvea); Hingano (Tonga); Sigano (Futuna, Samoa); Hinano (Marquesas, Societies); Hnano (Hawaii); Ingano (Cooks)NPH00012nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Pandanus_tectorius
Hala or ScrewpinePandanaceaeIndigenous to the Hawaiian IslandsHoomaluhia Botanical Garden, OahuThe aerial root tips called "scales," were pounded, juice strained and heated by early Hawaiians. They were mixed with eucalyptus in a ploulou (steam bath) to treat colds. A mixture of aerial roots with k (sugar cane) and other plants was used as a tonic for mothers weakened by child birth. The mixture was also given for chest pains. When mixed with other plants, the roots were used in urinary tract infections, low energy and red eyes. The tips are said to be rich in vitamin B.The keys (fruits) of the form hala pia were used medicinally.Polynesian Names for Female Tree: Ara (Cooks, Mangareva); Ara tai (Cooks); Ara taatai (Cooks); Balawa (Fiji); F (Niue, Tonga, Uvea); Faa (Southern Marquesas); Fala (Futuna, Samoa, Tokelau, Tuvalu); Fara Societies, Tuamotus); Fasa (Samoa); Haa (Northern Marquesas); Hala or Hala hua (Hawaii); Vadra (Fiji)Polynesian Names for Male Tree:Higano (Tokelau, Uvea); Hingano (Tonga); Sigano (Futuna, Samoa); Hinano (Marquesas, Societies); Hnano (Hawaii); Ingano (Cooks)NPH00005nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Pandanus_tectorius
Hala or ScrewpinePandanaceaeIndigenous to the Hawaiian Islands (all main islands except Kahoolawe)Photo: Oahu (Cultivated)The aerial root tips called "scales," before reaching the ground, were pounded, juice strained and heated by early Hawaiians. They were mixed with eucalyptus in a ploulou (steam bath) to treat colds. A mixture of aerial roots with k (sugar cane) and other plants was used as a tonic for mothers weakened by child birth. The mixture was also given for chest pains. When mixed with other plants, the roots were used in urinary tract infections, low energy and red eyes. The tips are said to be rich in vitamin B.The keys (fruits) of the form hala pia were used medicinally.Polynesian Names for Female Tree: Ara (Cooks, Mangareva); Ara tai (Cooks); Ara taatai (Cooks); Balawa (Fiji); F (Niue, Tonga, Uvea); Faa (Southern Marquesas); Fala (Futuna, Samoa, Tokelau, Tuvalu); Fara Societies, Tuamotus); Fasa (Samoa); Haa (Northern Marquesas); Hala or Hala hua (Hawaii); Vadra (Fiji)Polynesian Names for Male Tree:Higano (Tokelau, Uvea); Hingano (Tonga); Sigano (Futuna, Samoa); Hinano (Marquesas, Societies); Hnano (Hawaii); Ingano (Cooks)EtymologyThe generic name is derived from the Amboinese term pandan, Latinized to produce Pandanus.The Latin specific epithet tectorius carries the meanings "of plasterer; of rooftops, growing on rooftops, of the tiles."NPH00003nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Pandanus_tectorius
Hala or ScrewpinePandanaceae (Screwpine family)Indigenous to the Hawaiian IslandsPhoto: Oahu (Cultivated)Note: Though Hawaiians used hala keys, I cannot say for certainty that these are of Hawaiian origin.Early Hawaiians used ripe hala io (hala io) in lei work.Fiber from root tips of female hala were used to string lei.Very different from the female fruits (keys), the fragrant bracts of the male hala flower (hnano) were fashioned into strikingly beautiful lei and were used with or without the flowers themselves.hnanowww.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/11224950854/in/photolist...The ripe hala keys used for lei were cut by a shark tooth horizontially in three different ways according to desired use. Hard hala keys (hala iwi nui) were not used for lei. Several fruit (keys) forms were used for various reasons. At least six color forms are known and were frequently used by the lei maker: Hala. The common yellow to red keys. Hala koi. Keys are lemmon colored at base; bright orange upper half. Hala lihilihi ula. Keys are bright yellow at base, changing to brigt red-orange at top. Hala melemele, or Hala maoli. Bright yellow keys. Hala pia. Small canary yellow keys; prized. Hala ula. Orange red keys; very much prized.Because the name hala means to "pass away" or "die," lei made from hala were only for personal use by early Hawaiians and never presented to others, except with malice. The name hala is also translated as sin, vice, offense, fault, error, or failure, and not worn at certain times being considered as "bad luck."Many today, however, who work with hala do not accept this.Many other uses for hala can be found atnativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Pandanus_tectorius
Hala or ScrewpinePandanaceae (Screwpine family)Indigenous to the Hawaiian IslandsThe fragrant bracts of the male hala flower (hnano).Habitwww.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/5188333570/in/photolist-...Flowerswww.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/11224847305/in/photolist...Male flowers, called hnano in Hawaiian, are surrounded by very fragrant bracts. The soft part of hnano were chewed by early Hawaiian mothers and given to infants and young children as a laxative. Adults also used it as a laxative.While hala was greatly used by early Hawaiians, It should be noted that the specific variety with no leaf spines shown here was not used.Polynesian Names for Female Tree: Ara (Cooks, Mangareva); Ara tai (Cooks); Ara taatai (Cooks); Balawa (Fiji); F (Niue, Tonga, Uvea); Faa (Southern Marquesas); Fala (Futuna, Samoa, Tokelau, Tuvalu); Fara Societies, Tuamotus); Fasa (Samoa); Haa (Northern Marquesas); Hala or Hala hua (Hawaii); Vadra (Fiji) Polynesian Names for Male Tree:Higano (Tokelau, Uvea); Hingano (Tonga); Sigano (Futuna, Samoa); Hinano (Marquesas, Societies); Hnano (Hawaii); Ingano (Cooks)EtymologyThe generic name is derived from the Amboinese term pandan, Latinized to produce Pandanus.The Latin specific epithet tectorius carries the meanings "of plasterer; of rooftops, growing on rooftops, of the tiles."nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Pandanus_tectorius
Hala or ScrewpinePandanaceae (Screwpine family)Indigenous to the Hawaiian IslandsThe fragrant bracts of the male hala flower (hnano).Male flowers, called hnano in Hawaiian, are surrounded by very fragrant bracts. The soft part of hnano were chewed by early Hawaiian mothers and given to infants and young children as a laxative. Adults also used it as a laxative.Polynesian Names for Female Tree: Ara (Cooks, Mangareva); Ara tai (Cooks); Ara taatai (Cooks); Balawa (Fiji); F (Niue, Tonga, Uvea); Faa (Southern Marquesas); Fala (Futuna, Samoa, Tokelau, Tuvalu); Fara Societies, Tuamotus); Fasa (Samoa); Haa (Northern Marquesas); Hala or Hala hua (Hawaii); Vadra (Fiji) Polynesian Names for Male Tree:Higano (Tokelau, Uvea); Hingano (Tonga); Sigano (Futuna, Samoa); Hinano (Marquesas, Societies); Hnano (Hawaii); Ingano (Cooks)nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Pandanus_tectorius
Hala or ScrewpinePandanaceaeIndigenous to the Hawaiian IslandsThe fragrant bracts of the male hala flower (hnano).Male flowers, called hnano in Hawaiian, are surrounded by very fragrant bracts. The soft part of hnano were chewed by early Hawaiian mothers and given to infants and young children as a laxative. Adults also used it as a laxative.Polynesian Names for Female Tree: Ara (Cooks, Mangareva); Ara tai (Cooks); Ara taatai (Cooks); Balawa (Fiji); F (Niue, Tonga, Uvea); Faa (Southern Marquesas); Fala (Futuna, Samoa, Tokelau, Tuvalu); Fara Societies, Tuamotus); Fasa (Samoa); Haa (Northern Marquesas); Hala or Hala hua (Hawaii); Vadra (Fiji)Polynesian Names for Male Tree:Higano (Tokelau, Uvea); Hingano (Tonga); Sigano (Futuna, Samoa); Hinano (Marquesas, Societies); Hnano (Hawaii); Ingano (Cooks)NPH00010nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Pandanus_tectorius