Despite the prominance of coconut trees (niu) in our resorts and other (mostly) coastal areas, this large palm tree is an early Polynesian introduction.

The Hawaiians had a variety of uses of most parts of the plant. The trunk was made into house posts, small canoes, and drums. The fronds were used in basket weaving and as thatch; the midrib of the leaflets used to string kukui nuts to burn as torches. The fruit is especially useful, providing water and food for long canoe voyages; the husks were burned as a fuel or the separated fibers used to make sennit—a braided cordage—or as a strainer for kawa and other liquids. The hard interior shell can be a cup or a scooper.