Aloha ʻĀina Gift (Kou)

Kou an indigenous tree that can grow up to 25-30 ft. Wood was fashioned into calabashes, dishes and utensils. Containers made of this wood were prized because it did not impart a resinous flavor to the food it held. A warm brown to red kapa dye can be made from aged kou leaves. Fishermen also used the leaves to dye their fishing lines. The orange flowers make beautiful lei. This native is drought, wind and salt tolerant.
 
Give the gift of Aloha to the land who gives us so much!
This gift will go towards our bioclutural education for the community through land stewardship.
To show our appreciation we will plant one native Hawaiian plant for each gift given in Pia Valley O'ahu, a 330 acre nature preserve that we have the honor and Kūleana to steward. You will recieve a digital certificate with the GPS location of your tree, along with an open invitation to visit it. 
 
He aliʻi ka ʻāina, he kauwā ke kanaka. #531
The land is a chief, man is her servant.

Source: Pukui, M. K. (1983). ‘Ōlelo No‘eau Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings. Honolulu, Hawaii: Bishop Museum Press.

ʻŌlelo Noeau compiled by Johanna Kapōmaikaʻi Stone and Danielle Espiritu

“Living on this planet, we are all stewards of it. The land does not need us, but we need it. Let’s work together to protect & preserve it for our future generations.”

-Tyrone Montayre, Founder