What is the traditional use of dried Pandanus Hala fruits?

December 13, 2025 •

2 min read

In traditional Hawaiian culture, the fibrous, wedge-shaped segments of the hala fruit, known as keys, were collected and dried for a highly specific purpose: serving as paintbrushes for decorating kapa, or bark cloth. This practice highlights one of many resourceful uses of dried Pandanus Hala fruits across the Pacific Islands.

Quick Summary

Traditionally, dried Pandanus Hala fruits were repurposed into specialized brushes for painting kapa cloth in Hawaiian culture and processed for long-term food preservation, particularly in Micronesia.

Key Points

Painting brushes: In traditional Hawaiian culture, dried hala fruit keys were repurposed into brushes for painting and stenciling patterns on kapa cloth.
Preserved food paste: In Micronesia, the pulp of the hala fruit is boiled, processed, and dried into a long-lasting, nutritious paste that can be stored for years.
Leis and garlands: The colorful, dried keys of the hala fruit were traditionally strung together to create symbolic leis and garlands, especially for times of transition.
Fuel source: After the edible parts were used, the dried, fibrous keys were sometimes burned as a slow-burning fuel for cooking.
Multi-purpose resource: The use of dried fruit keys is one example of how the entire Pandanus tree—including leaves and roots—was traditionally used for food, crafts, and medicine.

Dried Hala Fruits as Traditional Tools and Resources

Across the Pacific Islands, indigenous communities historically maximized the utility of the Pandanus tree (Pandanus tectorius). While the fresh fruit was used for food, the durable keys or phalanges took on new life when dried. In Hawaii, dried hala fruit keys were transformed into specialized paintbrushes for kapa painting. By removing the flesh from one end, the fibrous bristles were exposed, creating a tool for stenciling designs.

Culinary Preservation Techniques in Micronesia

Dried hala fruit was also crucial in food preservation, especially for Micronesian islanders on atolls. The fibrous pulp was boiled, baked, and processed into a durable, nutritious paste that could be dried and stored for long periods, providing a reliable food source during leaner seasons. The paste-making process involved boiling the fruit keys, extracting the pulp, and drying it, sometimes with coconut cream. This paste resembled date paste and could last for years without refrigeration.

Dried Hala Fruit and Cultural Significance

Dried hala fruit keys hold deep cultural significance, particularly in Polynesian traditions where the keys are dried and strung into leis and garlands. These leis are exchanged during times of transition and carry symbolic weight.

Other Resourceful Uses of the Pandanus Tree

The Pandanus tree was a vital resource, with almost every part traditionally utilized. This includes:

Traditional Uses of the Pandanus Plant:

Leaves (Lau Hala): Woven into mats, baskets, sails, and thatch.
Aerial Roots: Used for cordage, medicine, and construction.
Male Flowers: Used to scent coconut oil or kapa cloth.
Fruit Pulp: Eaten raw, chewed for juice, or made into food paste.

Dried vs. Fresh Hala Fruit Uses: A Comparison

A comparison shows the different uses of the fruit based on its state:


Feature	Fresh Hala Fruit Keys	Dried Hala Fruit Keys
Primary Use	Chewed for juice, eaten raw or cooked	Tool creation, leis, fuel, preserved food
Texture	Pulpy, juicy interior; fibrous exterior	Fibrous bristles, woody handle-like exterior
Preparation	Eaten directly, boiled, or blended	Dehydrated, separated, and processed
Longevity	Ferments quickly, short shelf-life	Can be stored for long periods (paste)
Cultural Context	Culinary, famine food	Crafts, ceremonies, preservation

Modern Interpretations and Preservation of Traditions

Traditional uses of Pandanus hala fruit are crucial for cultural preservation. While modern materials exist, the knowledge of these practices is valued. Weaving and lei making continue, and preserved paste techniques are passed down.

Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Dried Hala Fruit

The traditional uses of dried Pandanus Hala fruit demonstrate the innovation of Pacific Islanders. From art in Hawaii to staple food in Micronesia, and its use in leis and fuel, the dried fruit keys highlight the multifaceted importance of this resource. The resourcefulness embodied by the hala fruit is a lesson in utilizing nature's provisions.

For more in-depth information on the ethnobotanical uses of the Pandanus plant in Hawaii, visit the Bishop Museum Ethnobotany Database.

Additional Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Traditionally, the fibrous segments of the ripe fruit (keys) were dried and used for crafts, while the juicy, fleshy parts were eaten raw or cooked.

Yes, in some Micronesian cultures, the pulp from the fruit keys was processed into a paste that was then dried for long-term storage as a staple food source.

In Hawaii, the flesh was removed from one end of a dried key to expose the fibrous bristles, which were then used for painting kapa, or bark cloth.

The flavor of fresh hala fruit juice is often described as a sweet, tropical mix of sugarcane and mango, though the fibrous pulp is often chewed and discarded.

Hala fruit leis are traditionally associated with transitionary periods and can be seen as either good luck or bad luck, depending on when they are given.

Other traditional uses include weaving the leaves (lau hala) into mats and baskets, using aerial roots for cordage and medicine, and using the fragrant male flowers to scent oil.

Hala fruit grows on the Pandanus tectorius tree, which is native to Malesia, eastern Australia, and the Pacific Islands.