Kī
Cordyline fruticosa
Shrub (6-10ft.) with large green leaves and few branches.
He lāʻau, ʻeono a ʻumi kapuaʻi ke kiʻekiʻe. He mau lau nani i makemake nui ʻia.
A Polynesian introduction now grown extensively. Naturalized in mesic forests and valleys, often in secondary Hala forests.
Ulu nui ke kī ma ka pā hale. Ulu kekahi ma ka wao maʻukele a ma ke awāwa. Ulu nō hoʻi ke kī ma ka ulu hala.
Leaves: thatch, food wrappers, hula skirts, sandals. The sweet roots were baked and eaten or used to make an alcoholic beverage called ‘okolehao.
Hoʻohana ʻia nā lau no ke pili, ka ʻai, ka pāʻū, a me nā kāmaʻa. Moʻa ka mole o ke kī i ka imu nui a ʻai ʻia. Hoʻohana ʻia nō hoʻi ka mole o ke kī no ka hana ʻana i ka ʻōkolehao.
Can be used as a specimen plant or for hedges. Does fine in full sun or partial shade in wind protected areas. Dark leaves provide a great backdrop for lighter/brighter colored plants.
Kanu ʻia ke kī i ka pā hale. Kanu ʻia i loko o ka malu, akā, hiki ke ulu ma ka lā kekahi.
There are many cultivars and varieties of ki today but only the plant described here is considered the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi variety.
He mau ʻano kī i loaʻa i kēia wā, akā, hoʻokahi wale nō kī Hawaiʻi; ʻo ia nō kēia.