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ʻULU NIU
I ka malu o ka lau niu
In the shade of the coconut leaves
For generations, the niu has been revered as the staff of life by the people of Moananuiākea. It is the ultimate provider plant, giving abundantly to the wellbeing of mankind. It is marveled that the niu can sustain a human through their entire life cycle, from their first breath to their last, and was often planted at the birth of a child to grow alongside them.
Every part of this sacred tree serves a purpose. The trunk transforms into pahu drums, building posts, and canoes; the fronds provide shade and can be made into baskets, hats, mats, and roof coverings, the midrib made into a broom. The crown and meat can be eaten or made into coconut oil, the shell repurposed to cups, storage, and musical instruments. The husk is used as a firestarter, and can be woven into cordage to secure tools, lash canoes, and bind together structures used in daily life. The nutrient rich water remains untouched by human hands, serving in ceremony as a symbol of purity. Some varieties were used by priests for divination. Standing as a bridge between heaven and earth, the niu is a kinolau of Kū, god of war, politics, fishing, and farming, often associated with masculine energy—strong, protective, and sustaining.
For our navigating ancestors, the niu was a lifeline on voyages, offering everything needed to survive at sea. The inner water used for sustenance, meat for nourishment, fibers for ropes and repair, and shells for tools and storage. Sprouted coconut were taken on voyages in order to cultivate and grow upon arrival to newfound destinations. With the niu, the ancient people of the Pacific journeyed vast distances, carrying with them the very key of survival.
Manaola honors the profound legacy of the niu, patterning structured fronds to create a background that embodies the malu niu, an allusion to the protective solace found under its familiar shade. The pattern’s intricate foreground highlights the niu’s utilitarian properties. To wear the Niu print is to tribute its role as the ultimate provider and protector, nourishing island communities for generations and standing as a pillar of perpetual sustainability.
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