Kaunaʻoa

Kaunaʻoa is the Hawaiian name for Cuscuta sandwichiana.

Kaunaʻoa is found in coastal habitat areas in the Hawaiian islands. It is a parasitic vine that often grows on and over other plants and trees. Its vine’s can extend and cover a large distance between 8-15 feet. Kaunaʻoa has tiny vine flowers that have varying hues of yellow.

Kaunaʻoa is known as a warrior plant because of its potency to shrink cancerous tumors and assist in the birthing process. Kaunaʻoa is a preferred plant for these and other ailments that native Hawaiian practitioners have used for centuries.

Kaunaʻoa is used for medicine in the form of teas, tinctures, poultices, and extracts.

Kaunaʻoa pālaha kukui o Kamehaʻikana.

The kaunaʻoa that spreads and flattens the kukui foliage of Kamehaʻikana.

Said of kaunaʻoa mālolo, which grows so thickly in some places that it covers the leaves of kukui and other trees.

ʻŌlelo Noʻeau 1631

Literally., mālolo (flying fish) kaunaʻoa, so called because this plant was spread over mālolo caught in a canoe to keep them from escaping.

Hawaiian Dictionary, Pukui