Hawai‘i Wisdom — March 2018

‘A‘ohe ‘ulu e loa‘a i ka pōkole o ka lou

“No breadfruit can be reached when the picking is too short.”

There is no success without preparation.

Source: ʻŌlelo Noʻeau, by Mary Kawena Pukui

Diane Ragone, director of the Breadfruit Institute at the National Tropical Botanical Garden, is seen here by an ‘ulu, or breadfruit tree, planted in the garden. The ‘ulu was brought to Hawai‘i by early Polynesian settlers. ‘Ulu is a starchy, gluten-free staple, high in complex carbohydrates, rich in dietary fiber, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, thiamin, niacin and vitamin A and B. It also has a moderate glycemic index compared to potatoes, white rice and white bread. The ‘ulu tree reaches maturity in three to four years, and can produce 100 to 200 fruits per year, providing 200 to 400 pounds of food.