La`au Kanakolu....30th Plant
Pala`a, or Palapala`a
Sphenomeris chusana
Hawaiians prize Pala`a for ornament and adorning hula dancers
and other ceremonial participants. It is sacred to Pele, Goddess
of Fire, and Laka, deity of Hula dancers. Pala`a is a very common
native fern found in moist and wet areas of lowland Hawaii.
Hawaiians collected the fern too to create a red pigment for dyeing.
Kekahi La`au Aku NO
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