Hawaiian & Polynesian Medicine
La'au lapa'au — Hawaiian plant medicine — and broader Polynesian healing traditions use noni, kava, turmeric, and coastal plants for body and spirit.
Hawaii & Pacific Islands
History & Philosophy
Origins
Hawaiian and broader Polynesian medicine developed as voyaging Polynesian peoples spread across the Pacific, carrying and adapting shared plant knowledge to each island's local flora over roughly a thousand years.
Core philosophy
Hawaiian healing (lā'au lapa'au) is grounded in lokahi — the unity and balance of body, mind, and spirit — with traditionally trained kāhuna (specialists) treating physical remedies as one part of a wider relational and spiritual framework.
Practiced today
Noni, kava, and coastal plants remain in active use across Pacific Island communities today, alongside a modern revival of interest in traditional Hawaiian healing practice and its formal integration into island healthcare where possible.
Herbs, foods & remedies
90 herbs traditionally used within Hawaiian & Polynesian Medicine — most often for Skin Health, Wound Healing, Digestive Issues.
Akoko (Euphorbia)
Euphorbia celastroides
Aloe Vera (Pānini-awa)
Aloe vera
Asi (Polynesian Basil)
Ocimum gratissimum
Awa (Hawaiian Kava)
Piper methysticum
Awa Puhi (Wild Ginger)
Zingiber zerumbet
Banana Flower (Futi)
Musa paradisiaca
Betel Leaf (Kava Samoa)
Piper betle
Bitter Melon (Parekura)
Momordica charantia
Breadfruit (Ulu)
Artocarpus altilis
Cassava Leaf (Manioke)
Manihot esculenta
Coconut (Niu)
Cocos nucifera
Dilo Oil (Tamanu)
Calophyllum inophyllum
Fā (Pandanus Key)
Pandanus tectorius
Fau (Sea Cotton)
Hibiscus tiliaceus
Frangipani (Pua Melia)
Plumeria rubra
Gardenia (Tiare)
Gardenia taitensis
Ginger (Cago)
Zingiber officinale
Guava Leaf (Poro)
Psidium guajava
Hala (Pandanus)
Pandanus tectorius
Hau (Sea Hibiscus)
Hibiscus tiliaceus
Hawaiian Basil (Kinehe)
Ocimum basilicum
Hō'i'o (Fern Fiddlehead)
Diplazium esculentum
Holei (Kopiko)
Psychotria hawaiiensis
ʻĀpepe (Wild Taro)
Alocasia macrorrhizos
Ihi (Oxalis)
Oxalis corniculata
Ilima Flower
Sida fallax
Kaunu'oa (Dodder Vine)
Cuscuta sandwichiana
Kava (Awa)
Piper methysticum
Kawakawa (Polynesian Pepper)
Piper excelsum
Ko (Hawaiian Sugarcane)
Saccharum officinarum
Kou (Cordia)
Cordia subcordata
Kukui Nut (Candlenut)
Aleurites moluccanus
Kupukupu (Sword Fern)
Nephrolepis exaltata
Laua'e Fern
Microsorum scolopendria
Lega (Wild Saffron)
Curcuma longa
Lemon Grass (Serelek)
Cymbopogon citratus
Māhoe (Whitewood Samoan)
Trichospermum richii
Mako (Mangrove)
Rhizophora mangle
Mama (Morinda)
Morinda citrifolia
Mamane (Sophora)
Sophora chrysophylla
Showing the first 40 of 90 — use “See all” above for the full, filterable list.