Species of the Month – Malaki (March) 2023
Loulu
Pritchardia spp. | Fan Palm
Ka Hōʻike ʻAno - Description
- There are 27 species of Pritchardia in the Palm family (Aracaceae) of which 24 are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.
- These loulu have 4-foot long emerald green to grayish or bluish green leaves above and a waxy grayish green cast.
Ka Laulā Kaianoho - Distribution
- Fossil evidence shows that loulu were once widely spread throughout the islands, especially in the lowlands.
- Laysan once had dense loulu (Pritchardia sp.) forests as found in recent pollen samples.
Ka Waiwai Hoʻoilina - Cultural Significance
- Other Hawaiian names are Hāwane, Loulu, Loulu lelo, Noulu, and Wāhane.
- The fronds, or leaves, called lau hāwane were used by the early Hawaiians for thatching and more recently as plaiting such as papale (hats) and fans.
- Kū i Ka Loulu, Ulu aʻe ke aloha no Nihoa moku manu.
Kū is of Loulu and our respect grows for Nihoa, isle of birds.
(Mele No Papahānaumokuākea, line 5)
ʻIkepili Hoihoi - Interesting Fact
- To appease the fishing gods, the Hawaiians built seasonal heiau made of loulu fronds. (Abbott 1992) Loulu o Nihoa (Pritchardia remota) is an endangered species of loulu that occurs naturally on the island of Nihoa.