Aleurites moluccana, or Kukui

Aleurites moluccana -- Kukui
Kukui has become naturalized in Hawaiian forests, and its distinctive silvery-green foliage can often be seen from a distance in the valleys of mountain slopes. The tree is fast growing, has star-shaped to slender leaves and fluffy white panicles of small flowers. Fruits are several inches across, bumpy and green, later turning black with one or two seeds.

The when the shell which surrounds the seed is burned, it produces a long-lasting black pigment for tapa, tattooing and for painting canoes. The oil from the seed produces some of the finest light grade oil from any source. The oil was used as wood preservative and also was valuable as fuel for light. Whole seeds strung on coconut leaf mid-ribs made a natural candle for evening illumination.
Liquid from base of fruit was used to treat thrush, a mouth fungus infection. Raw meat of the nut was used to treat constipation.
A condiment or relish called 'inamona was made with the crushed baked nut and salt. Flowers and leaves, as well as the seeds, were used in leis.


Photos by Priscilla Millen.
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