ʻAwa

Our Waʻa Collection honors the plants that were brought by our earliest ancestors to our islands. Many of these plants, while not endemic to Hawaiʻi, are considered indigenous because they have been here for centuries and have evolved to thrive in Hawaiʻiʻs unique ecosystem. 

ʻAwa, Piper methysticum, has heart-shaped leaves and dark, jointed stems. It thrives throughout Polynesia and is most commonly used in religious ceremonies and as medicine to treat many ailments including fatigue, colds, and other respiratory diseases. The root can be chewed fresh or it can be pounded, mixed with water, and strained for consumption as a drink.