Hāpuʻu ʻiʻi, Hāpuʻu or Hawaiian tree fern Cibotiaceae Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands Oʻahu (Cultivated)

Hawaiians, both long ago as well as in recent times, ate the uncoiled fronds (fiddles), which were considered delicious when boiled. The starchy core, though, was famine food. It was considered the most important food in lean times and one trunk may contain 50-70 pounds of almost pure starch. This was used for human as well as pig consumption. It was prepared by peeling the young fronds or placing the entire trunk with the starchy center in an ʻimu or in steam vents at the volcano.

The saying was "He hāpuʻu ka ʻai he ai make" (If the hāpuʻu is the food, it is the food of death).

NPH00008