ʻĒKAHA
NAME ORIGIN

Bird Nest FernOrigin

Scientific Name: Asplenium nidus

Hawaiian Name: Ekaha, Akaha

This is a unique looking plant with large banana leaf like fronds that take the shape of a birds nest. The Ekaha can often be found growing in rock crevices, or out of the branches of trees. The Hawaiians used this plant for medicine and the fronds were woven into Lau Hala mats.

Background Information

The bird’s-nest fern or ekaha (Asplenium nidus is one of the most recognizable of all ferns with its unmistakable large wide fronds visually similar to banana leaves. Another distinctive characteristic are the numerous long parllel rows of sori (fern spores) blanketing the underside of the fronds giving it a rusty look.

On O’ahu (southern Ko’olau Mts.) and on Maui in dry to mesic forests, very young ekaha is frequently seen with another indigenous fern ‘ohe’ohe (Haplopteris elongata). The long narrow fronds and rhizomes of ‘ohe’ohe appear to look like arial roots coming from the accompanying ekaha. it is not clear if ‘ohe’ohe is growing as an epiphyte on ekaha or the reverse.

* A juvenile form of ekaha is called ekahakaha.

Early Hawaiian Use

Household Furnishings:

The dark midribs of ekaha fronds were woven into lau hala mats and other objects of lau hala to provide pattern and color contrast.

Medicinal:

A liquid made from ekaha leaf shoots and mixed with other plants was used to treat children and infants with ‘ea or thrush and pa’ao’ao, a disease which physically weakens. Shoots with other plants were pounded and liquid squeezed into mouths of children with mouth sores or general weakness. An ointment was also made from the leaves and mixed with other ingredients and liquid was used for ulcers or body sores (puho kolokolo koko’ole).

Other Uses:
Ekaha were ceremonially planted to cover residual stumps after a tree had been felled for canoe (wa’a) making and before it was shaped with an adze.

On O’ahu (southern Ko’olau Mts.) and on Maui in dry to mesic forests, very young ekaha is frequently seen with another indigenous fern ‘ohe’ohe (Haplopteris elongata). The long narrow fronds and rhizomes of ‘ohe’ohe appear to look like arial roots coming from the accompanying ekaha. it is not clear if ‘ohe’ohe is growing as an epiphyte on ekaha or the reverse.

* A juvenile form of ekaha is called ekahakaha.