SOURCE: LINDA PASCATORE lindapascatore@me.com
POSTED: 12 SEPTEMBER 2004 - 10:00am HST
Plants Brought to Hawaii by Polynesians
Canoe Plants of Ancient Hawaii book cover artwork: © 2003 Copyright Neville Marc Berle
by Linda Pascatore on 12 September 2004 We found a wonderful website, "Canoe Plants of Ancient Hawaii", based on the book by Lynton Dove White. Imagine the ancient polynesians, bravely setting out over unexplored ocean in voyaging canoes. The canoes were laden with the basic food and medicinal plants they needed to survive. They slowly seeded their culture across the Polynesian island chain and all the way to Hawaii. Lynton Dove White studied under Kumu Hula Roselle Bailey here on Kauai, and also published in Hana News. White describes each plant and it's uses in detail, and there is a picture of each. Many of the plants had medicinal and ceremonial uses besides providing nourishment. His book will inspire you to try growing some of these sacred cultural plants and foods of Hawaii. Canoe Plants Website: http://www.canoeplants.com/index.html |