ʻĀkia ʻĀkia.
A coastal shrub with small yellow flowers and bright red berries.
ʻĀkia is a tough native Hawaiian shrub of dry coastal habitats, with small tubular yellow flowers, oval leaves, and bright red berries.
Its fibrous bark was traditionally pounded and twisted into strong cordage, and its tough wood was used for small implements.
ʻĀkia also had a more dramatic use — the entire crushed plant was thrown into closed tidepools to stupefy fish, which would float to the surface and could be gathered easily. This practice required precise traditional knowledge to keep the catch safe to eat.
More from Coastal Plants.
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The bright yellow Hawaiian hibiscus — official state flower of Hawaiʻi.
Hala
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