Our Color Māla

He keiki aloha nā meakanu.

Wauke (Pōʻaʻaha) - This meakanu will grow very tall, (6-8 feet will be ideal for us). The inner bark of this meakanu is used for making kapa. For the smoothest kapa, we must tend to the pōʻaʻaha to be sure it only grows straight and tall, plucking off any branches that bud when they are young.

ʻOlena - ʻOlena grows for about half the year and then dies back. Don’t be fooled when you don’t see it there, the rhizomes are still under the soil and still growing! These rhizomes are what will be harvested for beautiful yellow dyes.

ʻAlaʻalawainui - This plant can be used for another type of yellow dye. Can you see the colorful veins?

ʻUkiʻuki - The berries of this plant are purple and what can be used for a dye. The leaves of this plant, when dry, are very strong and good for braiding cordage.

Kalo - We have a number of varieties of kalo growing in our color māla. Can you spot the differences? Color identifiers on the lau, piko, lihilihi, hā and other spots help differentiate the varieties. Kalo with a dark hā are also able to make purple and maroon dyes.

ʻEleʻele Mākoko

ʻUahi a Pele

Mana ʻEleʻele

ʻEleʻele Naioea

Lauloa ʻEleʻele ʻula

Lehua Pala ʻiʻi

ʻUlaʻula Poni

Manini ʻŌwali