The
Ti Plant and Its Leaves
A
look at its many uses
Ti, or also known as Ki or La’i,
leaves are one of the most essential symbols of Hawaii and Hawaiiana. This plant, Cordyline
terminalis, Cordyline fruticosa, and other varieties are part of the lily
family and are seen all over the islands of Hawaii. Many local residents plant Ti around
their hale because of its diversity of uses. The most common uses today
are for its uses with food and making adornments. These uses were not far from
the historical uses of Ti leaves but a deeper exploration provides richness to
its representation of the Hawaiian people.
Over 2000 years ago, Ti plants were introduced
by ancient Polynesian voyagers. Since then, these plants have been intertwined
with Hawaiian mysticism. A
fundamental element of this spiritualism is mana, universal life force. It
exists in all beings, places and things and is especially abundant in Ti leaves.
It contains oils, which has the capacity to hold a great amount of mana and
thus great potential for power. By wearing ti leaf
adornments, this life force was used by kahunas and the ali’i to
fuel their charisma and leadership.
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| Watch Kumu Mark's Hana Lima episode titled, Lau Ki: Boning & Drying. |
Personal mana, one’s own store
of mana,
is limited but can be gathered through its interaction with the environment and
other things that possess mana. Healing
Kahunas knew how to gatherthis life force from Ti leaves and direct
its energy to a specific purpose. By energizing themselves they have more physical
and mental vigor to heal others. These leaves were indispensable tools for spiritual
and healing work. One specific medicinal use was using the cooling effects of
its “plastic-coated” leaves to alleviate headaches.
Its vigor of mana was
also used for protection. It
was planted around homes and temples to ward off evil spirits and other negative
energy. Blessing ceremonies for the home or other places of establishment, consisted
of a ti leaf used to sprinkle an infusion of olena and water around the establishment.
Although it is planted around many homes for protections, it is unadvisable to
keep a Ti plant in
your bedroom. Because it has so much mana, it
will prevent you from falling asleep.
Like other cultivated plants of Hawaii,
they are representations of Hawaiians aloha ‘aina {kahako
over first a in aina}, the love of the land and its efficient usefulness. Archaeologic
evidence shows that there was no other Polynesian culture like the Hawaiians
who developed such a sophisticated tradition of planting, cultivating, and harvesting. Many Ti plant
varieties have been developed by Hawaiians and was harvested for domestic uses
such as thatch, sandals, bandages, raincoats, fly whisks, and rope.
Ti leaves
were used to wrap a variety of things. Kahunas used these leaves to wrap their
feet in preparation of fire-walking. Offerings to temples and gods were wrapped
in Ti leaves. Foodstuff is often wrapped with Ti leaves for cooking, storing,
and serving. Other
historic uses include the Ti leaf trumpet of the Menehune and desserts and a
type of brandy out of its roots.
Lastly, stalks of Ti are used to represent
peace and truth. In a world of social unrest, this use maybe the most important
today. Ti leaves have many uses from the most mundane to the highest of spiritual
realms. The next time you see a hula
pa’u la’i, {kahako over all vowels of pa’u and la’i}, Ti lei,
or food wrapped in ti, look beyond the physicality of the leaves and
discover the richness and wisdom of Hawaiians through this living icon.
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Berney, Charlotte. (2001). Fundamentals of Hawaiian Mysticism. Freedom,
CA. The Crossing Press.
Heckman, Marsha. (2003). Lei Aloha. Waipahu, Hawai’i. Island Heritage Publishing
Kane, Herb. (1997). Ancient Hawai’i. Captain Cook, Hawai’i. The Kawainui Press.
Kepler, Angela. (1997). Hawai’i’ s Floral Splendor. Honolulu, Hawai’i. Mutual
Publishing
Morrell, Rima. (2005). The Sacred Power of Huna: Spirituality and Shamanism
in Hawai’i. Rochester, Vermont. Inner Traditions.
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