Ho'oulu Farmer's Market

Manono was asked by her Kumu Hula (master teacher), to talk story about items of Hawaiian cultural significance at the Ho'oulu Farmer's Market at Keauhou Bay. Aunty Bobbi helped Manono create the Kukui Tree display, Kirsty baked Irish soda bread, kabocha (pumpkin) bread and made lemon curd, we all made the inamona from the kukui nut, I picked avocados, Manono gathered the proteas and plumeria cuttings, the hens laid the eggs, and this run-on sentence must end.

 Manono and Kirsty setting up.

  Kirsty cutting up some of the soda bread for samples.

 The kabocha squash gives the bread a bright orange look!

 Pin Cushion and Pink Mink proteas.

 The eggs are so delicious, with bright orange yolks.

 The kukui tree display. The kukui tree is the official tree of Hawaii. The Hawaiian variety is the one on the table, with the skinnier leaves. The more common variety is from Madagascar (to the left), with broader, maple leaf type leaves.

 Aunty Bobbi wrote about the history and significance of the kukui tree on coconut paper (the middle of the table). The inamona (wrapped in the ti leafs), made from the chopped up, roasted kukui nut, is used as a condiment on poke, steaks, and salads.

 Leis made from the kukui nut shells.

The kukui nut is green on the tree, then drops and turns darker until the outer shell rots off, leaving the nut. Inamona is best made by gathering the nut after the outer shell turns dark brown on the ground. After discarding the outer shell, the nuts are placed in water to see which ones float. The ones that float are usually empty and can be used to make leis. The nuts to the right (3 nuts on a stick) are used as a candle. Roasted nuts bring out the oils, and were commonly used for lighting fires or as candles or torches. It was also used as a time reference, as in "I will see you in one kukui nut" which referenced how long the nut would burn.


We had a nice time at the market, even though it was sweltering. That area is always very hot, and humid. One gives thanks for even the slightest breeze. The ocean is only a block away, so next time we will go for a swim afterwards!

Peace my friends.