5 Hawaiian Healing Plants to Fall in Love With

Lilikoi flower on the vine.

Hawaiian herbal medicine (lāʻau lapa’au) is full of everyday magic. Every leaf, root, and flower carries both healing power and a story that’s been passed down for generations. Native Kanaka know that the plants carry the medicine we need and if we tune in, they’ll speak to us. I remember studying lāʻau lapa’au with Kumu Jeana Iwalani Naluai at Ho’omana Spa for a two-week intensive Hawaiian Healing study. When someone asked how the Hawaiians knew which plants to use for what, she responded obviously, “they asked the plants.”

Many of us have come far from this kind of connection, but the ‘āina here is meant to restore balance, and you can still find that wisdom alive across Maui in home gardens, roadside stands, and the lush green of the forest.

In the true spirit of our beautiful island, here are five local plants to know and love for their beauty, their healing gifts, and their deep connection to island life.

1. ʻŌlena (Hawaiian Turmeric)

Bright, golden, and full of life, for centuries, it’s been used for cleansing, healing, and spiritual protection. ʻŌlena is naturally anti-inflammatory and supports immunity, but it’s also a plant of purification and renewal.

How to use it: Add a thin slice to hot water with lemon and honey, or blend it into juice for an earthy boost of sunshine.

2. Noni (Morinda citrifolia)

Noni is famous across the islands for its strong smell and even stronger healing power. It’s packed with antioxidants and known for calming inflammation, easing digestion, and supporting overall wellness. In Hawaiian plant medicine, it’s a remedy for the body and the spirit, reminding us that true healing isn’t always pretty but it’s always worth it.

How to use it: Sip a tablespoon of noni juice daily or apply it topically to soothe skin irritations or sunburns.

3. Kī (Ti Leaf)

If there’s one plant that feels like a guardian, it’s the kī plant. You’ll see it everywhere in Hawai’i, symbolizing protection and good luck. The leaves are used for leis, hula skirts, cooking, and ceremony, but they’re also a gentle remedy for sore muscles and fevers.

How to use it: Warm a leaf and wrap it around tired joints or place one near your doorway for protection and calm.

4. ʻAwa (Kava)

ʻAwa, known elsewhere as kava, is one of the most sacred plants in Hawaiian and Polynesian culture. Traditionally prepared as a ceremonial drink, ʻAwa promotes calm, relaxation, and clarity. It’s used to ease anxiety, tension, and sleeplessness. It helps quiet the mind and connect more deeply to spirit.

How to use it: Sip ʻawa tea or tincture in the evening for relaxation (try a kava bar!), or before meditation to ground the body and open the heart.

5. Lilikoi Flower (Passionflower)

The lilikoi flower is as beautiful as it is potent. Beyond producing the sweet, tart passion fruit everyone loves, the flower itself carries gentle medicinal power. Traditionally, it’s used to soothe nerves, lift the mood, and enhance connection. It’s often thought of as an aphrodisiac for both body and spirit.

How to use it: Brew the dried flowers into tea to ease anxiety or add a touch of tart sweetness to an evening ritual.

Final Thoughts

These plants are more than herbal remedies. They’re part of a living tradition that ties people to the land and to each other. Whether you’re blending ʻŌlena in your smoothies, sipping ‘awa at a kava bar, or setting a kī leaf by your door, you’re connecting to an ancient rhythm of care that’s still thriving on Maui today.

Healing here doesn’t come from what you take — it comes from how you live, listen, and honor what grows around you.