‘Ulu - Breadfruit

A mature ‘ulu tree produces hundreds of pounds of fruit each year and is an important staple crop throughout the Pacific. As Hawai‘i residents become more aware of a need for food self-sufficiency in the islands, there’s been an increased interest in production of this starchy crop.

Breadfruit provides a fair amount of nutrients if you are eating a slice or two as a substitute for a potato. However, an average Pacific islander can easily eat a whole breadfruit in one meal. This not only gives needed energy calories but now the breadfruit jumps up to become a significant source of nutrients to its eater. It is especially good in fiber, calcium, potassium and magnesium.

The Pacific islanders developed over a hundred different varieties of breadfruit over the centuries. The type I have growing in our back yard is called Ma'afala by the Samoans. It is a variety that I would recommend. Some scientists think that breadfruit should be the crop of the future. Apart from providing food to the growing hungry in the tropics, flour made from the dried fruit does not contain gluten.

What is the legend of the ulu tree?
When a terrible famine struck, Kū sacrificed himself for his wife and children by disappearing into the ground. Standing over that spot, his wife's tears wet the soil and the next day a tiny green plant sprouted from the earth.

The Gift of Kū: A Hawaiian Story about ‘Ulu (Breadfruit)

The gift of Kū is the gift of ‘ulu. The following mo‘olelo is one of several explaining the origin of ‘ulu, a sustainable crop with numerous health benefits, in Hawai‘i. 

The god Kū, before he was known as a god, fell in love with a human woman and worked hard as a planter in her village. When a terrible famine struck, Kū sacrificed himself for his wife and children by disappearing into the ground. Standing over that spot, his wife's tears wet the soil and the next day a tiny green plant sprouted from the earth (plant emoji). The plant quickly grew bigger and bigger until it was a full size ‘ulu tree (tree emoji) with enough fruit to feed the entire village. That night, Kū came to his wife in a dream and told her how to peel and prepare ‘ulu for eating. The village was nourished again. But when villagers tried to take the fruit for themselves, the tree quickly sucked back into the ground. Kū again spoke to his wife and instructed her to dig up the keiki shoots to give to neighbors and friends. When ‘ulu is treated as a gift given with aloha, there is more than enough for everyone to feast!