Herbalism and Laʻau Lapaʻau: Plant Medicine in Hawaiʻi
By Hawaiʻi Wellness
Herbalism and Laʻau Lapaʻau: Plant Medicine in Hawaiʻi
Walk into a health food store on the Big Island or Kauaʻi and you'll see shelves lined with turmeric, noni juice, and kava root—all plants that thrive in Hawaiʻi's rich volcanic soil. Many of these plants are not new discoveries from distant lands. They've been healing Hawaiians and their ʻāina (land) for centuries as part of laʻau lapaʻau, the traditional Hawaiian system of herbal and plant medicine. Today, whether you're exploring Western herbalism or seeking practitioners rooted in Hawaiian tradition, understanding the difference—and the respect required—can deepen your wellness practice and honor the islands where you live.
The Roots of Hawaiian Plant Medicine
Laʻau lapaʻau means "plant medicine" or "treatment with plants." It's one of the foundational pillars of Hawaiian healing, passed down through generations and deeply connected to the islands' unique ecosystem. Unlike Western herbalism, which often extracts and isolates plant compounds, laʻau lapaʻau approaches plants as living beings with their own mana (spiritual power). The relationship to the plant matters as much as the plant itself.
Hawaiian healers, called kahuna lapaʻau or kāhea, understood that health was inseparable from your relationship to the land, your ʻohana (family), your spiritual practice, and your actions. A practitioner wouldn't simply give you a tea and send you home—they'd ask about your life, your pono (rightness, balance), and whether you were living in alignment with natural cycles. Plant medicine was one tool among many, alongside prayer, lifestyle adjustment, and spiritual reconciliation.
Western herbalism, by contrast, developed in Europe and Asia through a different lens: scientific observation, empirical testing, and the isolation of active constituents. A Western herbalist might prescribe the same herb for the same symptom to different people, whereas a Hawaiian healer would consider the whole person and their relationship to their environment. Both approaches have merit. The key is understanding which tradition you're drawing from—and whether the practitioner you're working with is rooted in one or the other.
Key Hawaiian Medicinal Plants
Several plants are central to laʻau lapaʻau and continue to be used throughout the islands today. You may already encounter these in your wellness journey:
ʻŌlena (turmeric) is perhaps the most recognizable. This golden root, now familiar worldwide, was used by Hawaiian healers for inflammation, digestion, and wound healing. It's gentle, warming, and deeply nourishing. If you've sipped golden milk in a Maui café, you've tasted a modern take on ancient practice.
Noni grows abundantly on all islands and has been used to support immune function and general vitality. The fruit is potent and earthy—not pleasant tasting on its own, which is why you'll usually find it as a juice or in capsules. Hawaiians used noni for everything from digestive support to skin health, and the entire plant is utilized (fruit, leaves, roots).
Kava (though traditionally from the Pacific, not native to Hawaiʻi) holds ceremonial and medicinal significance in Hawaiian culture. The root is prepared as a drink and traditionally used in social and spiritual contexts, as well as for relaxation and nervous system support. Kava carries cultural protocols and is best consumed respectfully, ideally with a practitioner who understands its proper use.
Mamaki, a native Hawaiian shrub, produces leaves rich in nutrients. The tea is slightly sweet and grounding, traditionally used for general wellness, digestion, and to support healthy skin. You'll find mamaki tea throughout the islands—it's a gentle daily drink that connects you to the local ecosystem.
Kukui (candlenut) has been used medicinally and nutritionally for centuries. The nuts are rich in omega-3s and have been used to support heart health and calm inflammation. The leaves have been used for skin conditions and digestive support.
Other important plants include ʻōhiʻa lehua (for respiratory health and clearing), ʻawa (calming), and various ferns and roots that Hawaiian healers gathered respectfully from specific locations, understanding that each place and plant has its own mana.
What a Consultation with a Practitioner Looks Like
The experience of working with an herbalist—whether Western or Hawaiian-rooted—will differ based on their training and philosophy.
A Western herbalist will typically take a detailed health history: your symptoms, diet, lifestyle, and any current medications or supplements. They'll ask about digestion, sleep, stress, and whether you have any underlying conditions. Based on this information, they'll recommend specific herbs, often in the form of teas, tinctures, capsules, or salves. The recommendations are symptom-focused and evidence-based. You might visit monthly to check in on progress and adjust formulas. The relationship is professional and clinical, though warm practitioners make it feel personal.
A Hawaiian herbalist or healer will ask broader questions about your life, your family, your connection to the islands, and whether you're living in alignment with your values and community. They may ask about your spiritual practice, your ancestors, and whether there's something in your relationship to ʻāina or your ʻohana that's affecting your health. They might recommend herbs, but they'll also suggest lifestyle changes, prayer, or reconnection to specific places on the island. A single consultation might last 90 minutes or more. The goal isn't just symptom relief—it's restoration of pono (balance) and harmony.
Many contemporary practitioners, especially on the Big Island and Kauaʻi, blend both approaches: they have Western herbalism training but also deep respect for Hawaiian tradition and the wisdom of working with place and person holistically. These practitioners often describe themselves as drawing on Hawaiian knowledge while honoring both systems.
Western Herbalism in Hawaiʻi
Hawaiʻi has a thriving Western herbalism community. Many practitioners have studied at schools like the Herbal Academy or through apprenticeship, and they work within the scientific understanding of herbal constituents and traditional European/Asian herbal wisdom. On the Big Island especially, you'll find herbalists specializing in fertility, hormone balance, digestive health, immune support, and stress management. Most Western herbalists in Hawaiʻi also emphasize the quality of the local plants they source and teach clients how to grow medicinal herbs at home—something the islands' climate makes wonderfully possible.
If you're working with a Western herbalist in Hawaiʻi, it's common to receive recommendations for both locally-grown plants (like noni or mamaki) and herbs sourced from the mainland or internationally (like passionflower or skullcap). A good practitioner will explain why they're recommending what they recommend and adjust based on your response over time.
Approaching Plant Medicine with Respect
Whether you work with a Western herbalist or a practitioner rooted in Hawaiian tradition, there's an essential principle worth honoring: plants are not commodities. They're beings with their own wisdom and their own relationship to this place.
This means several things in practice. First, if you're working with a practitioner who identifies as Hawaiian or uses laʻau lapaʻau, understand that this is not just folk medicine—it's a living cultural tradition with protocols and respect requirements. Don't approach it as quaint or supplementary. Approach it as you would any healing tradition: with seriousness and gratitude.
Second, the plants themselves matter. A noni grown in Hawaiʻi and harvested with care carries different energy than a noni powder shipped from overseas. Similarly, understanding where your herbs come from—whether they're wildcrafted, organically grown, or conventionally sourced—affects both their quality and the environmental impact. Many practitioners, especially those with Hawaiian roots, emphasize sourcing plants locally whenever possible and never overharvesting from wild populations.
Third, recognize that laʻau lapaʻau cannot be separated from ʻāina (land), ʻohana (family), and spirituality. If you're seeking that approach, you're seeking an entire way of relating to wellness, not just a different category of supplement. This is beautiful work, and it requires genuine openness and respect for Hawaiian culture, not just curiosity.
Most importantly: consistency matters more than complexity. Whether you're sipping mamaki tea daily or taking a carefully-crafted Western herbal formula, the plants work best when you build a relationship with them over time. You don't have to understand everything about plant medicine to benefit from it. Start simple—a single tea, a single tincture—and notice what shifts. Many herbalists will tell you that the plants teach you if you listen.
If you're ready to explore herbalism—whether Western, Hawaiian, or both—you'll find knowledgeable practitioners on our directory. Many offer free phone consultations. Ask about their training, their approach to sourcing plants, and whether they have experience with your specific concerns. You don't have to figure out the entire system at once. A single conversation often clarifies what path is right for you.