The Word of the Day is "Pua 'Ilima" - the Flower of 'O'ahu

Photo courtesy of Bishop Museum

Today's word of the day is the name for the flower that represents the island of 'O'ahu (pronounced oh-wah-hoo).  'O'ahu is home of the GOLD or YELLOW pua 'ilima (pronounced poo-wah ee-lee-mah…..notice how the word pua comes before the name) and was worn by the upper class in the ancient times.  The flowers are so thin and delicate, that it takes about 1000 flowers for a standard lei.  Hawaiians also used parts of this indigenous flower as a mild laxative for babies.  (I may have shared this, but we don’t want anyone picking it and consuming it…..many of the plants may have pesticide now.)

Come back again tomorrow for a continuation of our island flower series...

A hui hou,

Haunani