Wehewehe Wikiwiki Hawaiian language dictionaries

1. n., All species of a native genus (Charpentiera 🌐), shrubs and small trees, belonging to the amaranth family. Formerly on the north coast of Kauaʻi, Hawaiians used the wood, which is light and inflammable, for fireworks, throwing burning pieces from cliffs.

• References:
  • Neal 332.

2. n., Firebrand, as hurled from the cliffs in the famous Kauaʻi sport, so called because pāpala wood was often used.

• Examples:
  • Ke ahi pāpala welo i Makua (chant), the streaming pāpala firebrand at Makua.

3. nvs., Haze, fog; hoarse, as the voice.

• Rare

Amaranth tree (genus pāpala, Charpentiera spp.) with

Endemic Hawaiian genus (Charpentiera) of the amaranth family. Its light, flammable wood was used by early Hawaiians for firework displays. On dark nights pieces were lighted and thrown into the wind from cliffs on Kauaʻiʻs north coast where they floated gently down. In Hawaiʻi the leaves are used for leis. Its flowers are pink, the leaves fragrant. (NEAL 471.)