`Uki`uki

`Uki`uki, also known as the Hawaiian dianella or lily, comes from the reduplication of the Hawaiian word `uki which is used to classify a number of native sedges. Of the genera, `Uki`uki is the sole family representative native to the Hawaiian islands.

There are different varieties of `Uki`uki. All have long, tapered green leaves. The shorter compact variety is about 1 to 1½ feet in height. It has bright plum-purple berries. The taller, thin leaved variety can grow up to 3 feet in height and has fruits that are eggplant purple in color. A paler green variety of `Uki`uki has white fruits. The flowers of `Uki`uki run from pale blue to whitish in color. They can be recognized by their orange filaments and yellow anthers. Once pollinated, the flowers grow into dark purple berries less than an inch around.

`Uki`uki flowers year round. It is found in mesic forests, dry shrub land, and on lava.

Traditional Cultural and Medicinal Usages

• A blue dye was extracted from the berries for coloring kapa
• Leaves were braided into cordage and used for hale (house) thatching
• Fruit was used for seed lei