(Otherwise known at the ti plant)

Ki was used for several things.

Clothing

Ki leaves were used for many useful things. It could be used to make garments, rain coats (protection from the rain), hula skirts, and even for sandals. The hula skirt thing is not native. People believe the tradition of wearing ki leaves came from the south pacific island called Kiribati or known as the Gilbert Islands.

Fishing

Hawaiians would wrap bait inside ki to lure sharks. They would also put the wrapped up bait into nets so it would be easier to catch fish that they needed for food. They would also put bait on a stick with a hook and a stone to try to catch he'e (octopus) or squid.

Religion

This plant was very sacred to the god Lono. If a priest wore the leaves around his neck, it was a sign of high rank. The plant also shooed bad spirits away. If you went into battle, held the plant up and dropped it, that would mean you surrendered.

Stainer

If you pounded the roots of the ki plant, you would get a juice. The juice was used to stain surfboards to make a design or to just have your board that color.

Thatching

The leaves from the plant were used to cover the roofs and walls of a house. The temple for the god Lono was completly thatched with ki.

Medicine

The leaves were dipped in cold water and then were placed on the forehead to relieve a headache. If the leaves were wrapped around hot stones, you could use it to soothe backaches or to relieve sore muscles. The small or young leaves were used as bandages for wounds.

Food Service

The leaves would be used to wrap laulau, to hold food, or for wrapping fish and meant for lawalu (cooking on coals) and placed in an imu. The leaves were also used to wrap and store pa'i'ai. Leaves that were cut were used as cups and plates. It was also used as candy. The roots were backed in the imu and eaten.