Niu (Coconut)

Coconut can be found in all tropical environments across the world.  Depending on the species, it can range from ten feet tall to well over fifty feet tall.  The coconut is one of the most versatile and prolific plants found throughout the Hawaiian islands.

Early Hawaiians figured out multiple ways to use every part of the coconut tree, from the nutritious fruit to the weave-able leaves. Even the tree trunk can be carved into a large drum called a pahu.  The niu has a fragrant flower that acts as a perfume when heated with coconut oil.