Niu

Niu is the Hawaiian word used to describe the common palm known as the coconut tree. There are a number of Hawaiian legends surrounding the Niu. Most of them contain stories of how the tree magically bent over to bring those challenged in the story to a happy ending. This tree is also known as: Iu (Kosrae, Yap), Ni (Marshall Islands), Nu (Chuuk), Niyog (Guam, Philippines) Ko ko yashi (Japan), Maphrao (Thailand), Dua (Vietnam), and Ke ke ye zi (China).

Niu is a slender tree with a semi-smooth light brown bark that can grow up to 100' tall. The trunk of the tree is flexible and able to bend in heavy winds. Ascending from the swollen base of the tree are grooved rings that demarcate points of previous frond attachment. At the top of the tree is a cluster of fronds. Each frond can grow up to 10' -18' long. Branchlets grow within the sheaths which are brown in color (lighter on the outside and darker within) and shaped like long canoes. Both male and female flowers exist in the branchlet. Once pollinated, the green oval shaped coconut begins to form. The fruit can grow up to 15" long and 12" wide.

Niu can produce up to 50 fruits each year. The seed grows ideally in warmer climates.

Traditional Cultural and Medicinal Usages

• In order to commemorate great events, young Niu trees were groomed to grow bent over
• Niu provides the basics of life, from food to shelter, ornamentation to musical instruments
• The fruit contains the most sterile water on earth
• Oil used for cooking, cosmetics, skin conditions
• Properties: anti-tumor, antiseptic, astringent, diuretic
• Roots used to treat syphilis; rheumatism (Malaysia)
• Husk used to treat malaria (Nigeria)

-----

Note: Due to damage by the invasive Coconut rhinoceros beetle, some of the Niu trees in front of Henry Hall were removed in 2018,