Kapa, made from pounding māmaki or wauke bark until it is a thin cloth, adorns this photo album. It was a stylistic choice of the time to cover books with kapa. This kapa-bound photo album explores 19th-century Hawaiʻi, including King Kalākaua’s coronation parade and ceremonies in 1883. 

This is a broadside called Algae of the Hawaiian Islands by J. E. Chamberlain (Jeremiah Evarts Chamberlain). It is unclear when exactly this broadside was published, but it appears in Thrums Hawaiian Annual in 1881. Chamberlain names some popular places for picking limu and talks about how older Hawaiian women were considered the experts on limu. He then goes on to name 64 types of limu from Andrews’ Hawaiian language dictionary and a list of scientific names. Chamberlain studied and collected limu.

‘Ewa Beach Park on the west side of O‘ahu is a popular place to find edible seaweed, or limu. It often accumulates in large piles at the water’s edge, where it attracts many people to sort through the piles, looking for their favorites. Two of the most highly prized varieties are limu manauea, commonly called ogo, and limu wāwae‘iole. Today, a section of ʻEwa has been designated by the Department of Land and Natural Resources as the ʻEwa Limu Management Area where the public can harvest limu from 6am-6pm. 

This article was published in Ka Lahui Hawaii on August 23, 1877, by Abraham Kauahi. He wanted to warn readers about a poisonous limu at Mūʻolea, Hāna, Maui. He discovered this because children who hung out at the tidepools and ate large amounts of small fish would pass out. A man from Hōnaunau, Hawaiʻi, later visited who was familiar with this poisonous limu. He found this out by rubbing this limu on ʻuala. Pigs would then eat this ʻuala, vomit, and die. The author warns that if you touch this limu, your hand will fall off. 

HHS holds two printed versions of the Kumulipo that were published in the 19th century. 

In the first wā, the sea urchins and limu (seaweed) were born. The limu was connected through its name to the land ferns. Some of these limu and fern pairs include: Limu Kala and ʻakala berry. These plants were born to protect their sea cousins. 

In the fifth wā, Kalo (taro) is born. The kalo plant is the elder brother of mankind. As the elder brother, kalo nourishes us, and we, in return, must respect and care for the kalo.

Bulletin 84 was published in 1939 by Whitney, Bowers, and Takahashi. This publication contains detailed descriptions of 84 varieties of taro found in Hawai‘i. However, what is interesting to note is that this manuscript lists 180 varieties prior to the 1939 bulletin.

Even after 50 years, the same verbiage wrapped up in a “scientifically pure” soluble powder, Hawaiian Taro-Lactin was a quick energy replacer and meal supplement comparable to the ever-popular international drink, Ovaltine. Taro-Lactin was highly recommended by pediatricians and had undergone extensive research at the Queen's Hospital. 

Residence of Dr. William Hillebrand in Nuʻuanu. However, in 1855, Dr. Hillebrand leased land in Waikahalulu from Queen Kalama. He collects close to 160 botanical species and grows them on this land. He left Hawaii in 1871. His house can be seen in the bottom right corner. 

In 1886, he completed his horticulture writings from Hawaii. After his death, his son published in 1888 and dedicated the book to the Hawaiian People. 

By 1880, Thomas Foster purchased land, including Dr. Hillebrand's. After Thomas’ death in 1889, his wife and philanthropist, Mary Foster, purchased more acreage and sought professional assistance in reviving and adding to Dr. Hillebrand’s garden. No record of trees or plant species was ever conducted until 1916, with the assistance of botanist Dr. Joseph F. Rock.

Ultimately, Mary Foster bequeathed her home and garden to the City of Honolulu on December 19, 1930 with $10,000 and the provision that the city accept and forever keep and properly maintain the garden as a public and tropical park to be known and called Foster Park. Foster Park, now known as Foster’s Botanical Garden, opened on November 30, 1931.

Today, Foster’s Botanical Garden sits on about 20 acres from Mary’s 5.5 acres of gardens. It contains 25 out of 100 Exceptional Trees on Oʻahu and is home to both native Hawaiian plants and species from around the world. 

The Loulu palm is endemic to Oʻahu and is part of the Arecaceae family. Loulu are single-trunked palm trees with fan-shaped leaves. 

A "heiau mapele" in Hawaiian culture refers to a temple or place of worship specifically dedicated to the god Lono, associated with agriculture and prosperity. These heiau were for the makaʻainana or commoners. Seasonally, within their districts, small heiau of loulu were erected for the gods who presided over fishing.