Canoe Plants and Olena

‘Olena was one of the plants brought to Hawai’i by early Polynesians in their voyaging canoes. Its common name is Turmeric, and it is a member of the ginger family. The Hawaiians used the bright orange rhizome to make a golden yellow dye to color kapa cloth, and utilized the astringent and antibacterial properties of the plant for medicinal uses.

‘Olena (Curcuma longa) grows in moist forested valleys, up to altitudes of 3,000 feet. After a dormant stage during the winter, new leaves rise up from the rhizome in the spring. The leaves grow directly from the underground root without any stem, and are about 8 inches long by 3 inches wide, with the plant rising to about 2 to 4 feet high. At the end of summer, cylindrical flower cluster rise separately from the leaf stalks, and pale yellow and white flowers blossom. But, it is the rhizome of the ‘Olena which was precious to early Hawaiians.

In ancient Hawai‘i, ‘Olena was mixed with sea water and used in religious ceremonies to purify objects, people, and places, and infuse mana (power). The dark yellow or orange rhizomes were also used as a dye for malo (male loin cloths) that were reserved for ali‘i (chiefs and royalty). And ‘Olena-scented kapa was placed on the hula altar as a symbol of enlightenment.

Medicinally, the roots were pounded and pressed to extract a juice that was helpful in earaches (pepeiao ‘eha), bladder problems, and clearing sinuses. The astringent qualities of ‘Olena are also useful in cases of tuberculosis, bronchitis, colds, and asthma (hano). Its use enhanced the immune system by purifying the blood.