Aloha and welcome to Bishop Museum's Ethnobotany Web Page.

Please browse the cultural and scientific information about 145 plants commonly used in traditional Hawaiian culture. More information, plants, and pictures are coming soon.

Search by Hawaiian names or scientific names. There isn't a one-to-one match but we've followed experts such as Mary Kawena Pukui, Isabella Abbott, and Beatrice Krauss as much as possible.

We are not able to use diacritical marks at this time (okina & kahako) e kala mai!

See our reference page for further reading and additional websites that you might find interesting.

Mahalo nui to all the people who have helped with ideas and time:
Lahela Perry, Clyde Imada, Barb Kennedy, Deborah Woodcock, Mei Lyn Kalima, Keoni Kuoha, Krisi Ouchi, Arturo Morales, Carolyn Ewing, Kamalu duPreez-Aiavao, Marques Marzan, and Vicky Takamine