Plant – Na’u

Na'u

Description: Small tree, not tall. The leaves are small, glossy and dark green and a small fragrant white flower.

ʻōlelo mua (Introduction):

Inoa(Name):

  • Scientific – Gardenia brighamii
  • Hawaiian – Na’u
  • English –

    Hawaiian Gardenia

ʻOhana: Part of Rubiaceae family

Kūlana olakino(Status): Endemic

Lāʻau lapaʻau(Medicinal Use):

  • None

Ways it was Used:

  • The pulp of the fruit was orange-yellow colored and used as a dye for kapa usually worn by ali’i.
  • The flower itself is used to make lei’s
  • the kapa anvils was made from the wood of the na’u tree.

Kino lau(Many Forms taken by Supernatural body): None