Pāpala kēpau
Pisonia umbellifera
Large shrubs or trees up to 30 ft. tall, loosely branched with big, dark green leaves. The nodes towards the stem tips are larger than most plants and look almost like knuckles. Beautiful pink flower clusters contrast well with the dark foliage when the plant is in bloom. After pollination the flowers develop into large, cigarette sized fruit which is covered in a sticky sap.
He lāʻau pūnohunohu a he kumulāʻau kiʻekiʻe paha (kanakolu kapuaʻi). Ke ulu kiʻekiʻe, he lāʻau līlā nō ia, a he lau uliuli nui. Kohu puʻupuʻu lima nā wēlau o nā lālā. He pua nani ʻākala, a he hua kohu kikaliki i uhi ʻia i ke kēpau.
This is an indigenous tree found on all the islands except Ni’ihau and Kaho’olawe in wet forests and valleys from about 300 ft. to 2400 ft. in elevation.
Ulu ka pāpala kēpau i nā mokupuni a pau o ka pae ʻāina, koe ʻo Niʻihau me Kahoʻolawe ma ka wao maʻukele.
The sticky sap from the fruit was harvested and place on stems near flowers frequented by native forest birds. When the bird came to get nectar from the flower it would adhere to the branch, making it easier to gather to collect its feathers.
ʻUwī ʻia ke kēpau o ka hua a uhi ʻia nā lālā i kau pinepine ai nā manu no ke kāpili manu. Pēlā e ʻohiʻohi ai i nā hulu manu no ka mahiole, ʻahuʻula, lei hulu, a kāhili.
Papala kepau do great in partially shaded areas. The grow habit of it makes it look very unique and prehistoric looking. Plus the blooms are an added bonus. Water it daily for a few weeks then a good soaking twice a week should be fine. This tree has very few branches but the ones it does have like to spread out so give this plant ample room to do that. Don’t be surprised to walk through your garden when this plant is large and come out with new papala kepau soles on your feet the fruit will stick to anything that lets it.
E kanu i ka pāpala kēpau i kekahi wahi malu. E hāinu i kēlā me kēia lā no nā pule mua, a laila, ʻelua wale nō hāinu ʻana o ka pule. ʻAʻole nō nui nā lālā o ka pāpala kēpau. E makaʻala hoʻi, pipili loa ke kēpau, a e pili ana i kekahi mea e pā ai.
This plant also goes by just papala but there are other unrelated native plants called papala as well in the genus Charpentiera.
Kapa ʻia kēia lāʻau i kekahi wā, he pāpala, akā he lāʻau ʻē aʻe nō hoʻi ka pāpala.