Maui Nui Botanical Gardens on Saturday, September 5, 2026, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
by Hōkūao Pellegrino
ʻUlu (breadfruit) in Hawaiʻi is also known as ʻai kamehaʻi, a reference to a food source that reproduces itself via the work of the gods. To Hawaiians, ʻulu is the tree of life and is deeply rooted in their traditions and mythology. Although it is widely known as a canoe plant, brought by early Polynesian voyagers, it is also believed that ʻulu is connected to the god Kū, who turned himself into an ʻulu tree at Kaʻawaloa, Kona, on the island of Hawaiʻi, during a period of famine so that his wife and children could live. The ʻulu then grew, providing sustenance not only for his ʻohana but for future generations through the many offshoots that the tree generated. ʻUlu was also a kinolau of the goddess of childbirth, Haumea, and was named Kamehaʻikana, meaning a multitude of descendants. ʻUlu is a true symbol of resilience, abundance, and profound connection to the ʻāina.
As a food source, ʻulu is a highly productive and versatile complex carbohydrate. A single ʻulu tree can yield hundreds of pounds of starchy, gluten-free, nutrient-dense fruit each year. Today, alongside other important Hawaiian starches like kalo and ʻuala, ʻulu is experiencing a renaissance of its own as Native Hawaiians and local communities revitalize its cultivation to lessen Hawaiʻi’s reliance on imported foods such as potatoes.
ʻUlu can be prepared in many ways during its ripening stages, including roasting, baking, frying, drying, and boiling. ʻUlu is a healthy alternative to potatoes and other starches with a high glycemic index. ʻUlu is great at enhancing the flavors of stews, curries, salads, stir-fries, soups, and so much more. When peeled, cored, and sliced, raw ʻulu can be stored in the freezer for up to six months.
To learn more about this important local food source, please join the Maui community in celebrating all things ʻulu at the Lā ʻUlu (Breadfruit Day) Festival. It will take place at the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens on Saturday, September 5, 2026, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Free parking is located across the street at War Memorial Stadium. This free event will include presentations, propagation methods, tree care, harvest demonstrations, and ʻulu trees for sale. There will be live entertainment and cultural activities where keiki and makua can play ʻulumaika, make lei with malo ʻulu, and make poi ʻulu. There will also be plenty of ʻulu dishes and value-added products being sold in smaller portions, so you can try more than one different creation.
