What is a lauhala tree?

An indigenous tropical evergreen tree growing up to 30 feet tall. A terminal rosette of sword-shaped leaves (lau hala) sits atop an erect trunk, often supported by prop roots. The green leaves are 2 inches by 2 feet, have toothed margins, and a prominent midrib (some cultivars are thornless).

Is the hala fruit edible?

The hala fruit is a large edible fruit made up of numerous segments called keys or cones and is found in Southeast Asia, eastern Australia, Pacific Islands and Hawaii. Also called the Tahitian screw pine or thatch screwpine, the hala fruit tree is one of the 750 or so trees that belong to the Pandanus species.

Where does lauhala come from?

Lauhala is a Hawaiian word, coming from the root word lau, which means “leaf” and hala, the word for a common plant in Hawaii, also known as Hawaiian Screwpine or Pandanus tectorius. Hala has long leaves that can be woven into fabric, which can then be put to a wide variety of uses.

How do you know when hala fruit is ripe?

Hala trees are dioecious, either male or female. Female trees bear large, round fruits that look like pineapples, but are actually clusters of fifty to eighty fruitlets, or drupes. When ripe, they turn vivid orange, yellow, or red.

What can I do with lauhala fruit?

The fruits are often consumed fresh or as a preserved food while the trunks of P. tectorius can be used as building material, and leaves for thatching. Though many parts of the hala tree are utilized, in Hawaii the most common use of Hala is the leaves.

Can lauhala get wet?

Avoid submerging your lauhala pieces in water (swimming, showering). This will preserve the longevity of the jewelry. If jewelry gets wet, dry it in indirect sunlight.

What part of hala fruit is edible?

A hala fruit’s skin is inedible while the orange-red meat has a texture that is pulpy, tough, and extremely fibrous. The smaller fruits have barely any edible flesh and aren’t worth the effort. At the center of the hala fruit is a seed that is reddish-brown and can be eaten.