The Hawaiians ate mostly vegatables and poi and supplemented their diet with fish and over 30 varieties of native limu (seaweeds). Noni and kukui were the most important herbs used to treat many different ailments. Noni (Morinda Citrofolia) is an evergreen, fruit-bearing tree originally from Asia.
Noni flowers are perfect, having both male and female organs. There are no male and female noni trees (image: Morinda citrifolia).
Research suggests that Noni’s action includes purifying the blood, stimulating the immune system, regulating cell function, and regeneration of damaged cells.
| Kingdom | Plantae – Plants |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta – Vascular plants |
| Superdivision | Spermatophyta – Seed plants |
| Division | Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants |
| Class | Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons |
| Subclass | Asteridae – |
| Order | Rubiales – |
| Family | Rubiaceae – Madder family |
| Genus | Morinda L. – morinda |
| Species | Morinda trimera Hbd. – noni kuahiwi |
| Species | Morinda citrifolia L. – Indian mulberry |