‘Uki‘uki

Dianella sandwicensis

Native Indigenous

The long, smooth, slender leaves are tough and flexible and were traditionally used for making cordage. Hale Pili, the grass house at Bishop Museum is lashed with ʻukiʻuki cordage. The attractive berries appear on stalks and make dyes that vary from light blue to violet; the dyes are used to decorate kapa cloth.