Hala tree / Pandanus tectorius. Kalalau Trail, Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii, USA.

Hawaii's native Hala tree is also known as Tahitian Screwpine, Pu Hala, Screw Pine, Textile Screwpine, Thatch Screwpine, Pandanus, Pandan, Tourist Pineapple or Pineapple Tree (Pandanus tectorius, or synonyms: P. chamissonis, P. douglasii, P. menziesii, P. odoratissimus; in the Screw-pine family, Pandanaceae). Some people mistake hala fruit heads for pineapples, which are unrelated plants. Cultivated varieties of Hala differing from the native version were brought to Hawaii by the ancient Polynesians in their canoes. Hala was useful for medicinal purposes, and the fruit was eaten and used to make leis. Its roots could make cordage. Hala leaves served as thatch and could be stripped of spiny edges to be woven or plaited into mats, pillows, sails, baskets, hats, sandals, and fans. A beautiful day hike along the slippery Kalalau Trail goes from Ke'e Beach to Hanakapiai Beach, with a rougher side trip to impressive Hanakapiai Falls, in Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, USA. To reach Hanakapiai Valley's waterfall, follow the signed clay trails for a moderately strenuous 8.8 miles round trip with 2200 feet cumulative gain (measured on my GPS)

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Filename: 1701HAW-1067.jpg
Copyright: © Tom Dempsey / PhotoSeek.com
Image Size: 5472x3648 / 8.9MB; http://www.photoseek.com/; Plantae nature plants trees
Contained in galleries: 2017 Jan 16-Feb 6: Hawaii: Oahu, Kauai, Big Island, Hawaii: Kauai

Hawaii's native Hala tree is also known as Tahitian Screwpine, Pu Hala, Screw Pine, Textile Screwpine, Thatch Screwpine, Pandanus, Pandan, Tourist Pineapple or Pineapple Tree (Pandanus tectorius, or synonyms: P. chamissonis, P. douglasii, P. menziesii, P. odoratissimus; in the Screw-pine family, Pandanaceae). Some people mistake hala fruit heads for pineapples, which are unrelated plants. Cultivated varieties of Hala differing from the native version were brought to Hawaii by the ancient Polynesians in their canoes. Hala was useful for medicinal purposes, and the fruit was eaten and used to make leis. Its roots could make cordage. Hala leaves served as thatch and could be stripped of spiny edges to be woven or plaited into mats, pillows, sails, baskets, hats, sandals, and fans. A beautiful day hike along the slippery Kalalau Trail goes from Ke'e Beach to Hanakapiai Beach, with a rougher side trip to impressive Hanakapiai Falls, in Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, USA. To reach Hanakapiai Valley's waterfall, follow the signed clay trails for a moderately strenuous 8.8 miles round trip with 2200 feet cumulative gain (measured on my GPS)