Mamaki and Native Hawaiian butterflies

The Kamehameha Butterfly (Vanessa tameamea), a.k.a. Lepelepe O Hina, or simply pulelehua (meaning “butterfly” in Hawaiian), is one of two endemic butterfly species in the Hawaiian islands. The pulelehua became the state insect in 2009 when a class of 5th graders at Pearl Ridge Elementary on Oahu proposed it to the state. Although not yet categorized as endangered, their numbers are rapidly declining.

Māmaki (Pipturus albidus) is also a Hawaii-only species, a needle-less nettle that has co-evolved with the pulelehua. The pulelehua uses mamaki as its host plant, so we’re growing mamaki in hopes that it will help more butterflies to reproduce.

The other endemic butterfly in Hawaii is the Koa Butterfly (Udara blackburni), also known as the Hawaiian Blue. The Koa Butterfly has a healthy population.

Both butterflies co-exist with native tree Koa (Acacia Koa), so mamaki and koa are beautiful team members of the same native Hawaii ecology. The adult Kamehameha butterfly males drink the fermented sap of koa, and the Koa butterfly lay their eggs on the koa (as well as another native, wind- and drought-resistant ‘aʻaliʻi).

As we grow Mamaki Skin, we are concurrently growing our land-based projects like our Invasive Medicinals initiative, through which we will be helping to restore native ecology. Every purchase supports the current and future environmental health of the land, which directly supports all of our collective health.

Pulelehua illustrated by Yuriko J. Design