History of the Hawaiian Coconut

Ah, the coconut. One of the first thing that comes to many people's minds when you mention Hawaii is the coconut. But where did the coconut even come from? It turns out that the coconut has quite an extensive past, shrouded in mystery. In fact, no one can even figure out where the coconut originated from.

There have been mentions of the coconut as far back as 4th century BC, described in Sanskrit. It was also featured in many Indian paintings and rituals. You can also find the coconut making cameo appearances in the Hindu epic stories Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas. Later on, it was used in Aryan rituals. The coconut was said to have hit northern India before migrating on down to the southern half. Indians refer to the coconut as sriphala, or fruit of the gods.

Even today, India is the third largest producer of coconuts in the world. It still holds a strong place in their hearts, mythology, and rituals. In fact, the tree is sacred to them. Cutting the tree is like cutting a person - an abhorrent practice.

The coconut was introduced to Hawaii by early Polynesian voyagers. It made itself at home and well - we see what an institution the coconut is in Hawaiian culture today. The coconut palm grows best in places with sandy soils, like Hawaii . It requires both high temperatures and high humidity. In the United States , the only two states that the coconut palm can grow in without special treatment is Hawaii and Florida.

So why was the coconut so revered and significant? Well, it is more than just for eating (or using as a coconut bra when you're drunk). The coconut is incredibly versatile, in fact. Coconut oil is used in a variety of applications, and is derived from drying the nuts. You can see one of the uses of the oil firsthand in our coconut soaps. There were countless medical concoctions that relied upon the coconut, such as a Mexican diuretic.

Coconut oil has also been touted for its anti aging effects. The cholesterol is controlled and lowered via a stimulation of the thyroid function. It can also help to encourage weight loss. Antiseptic effects have also been recorded in coconut oil. It contains medium chain fatty acids. One of these acids, lauric acid, has anti-viral effects associated with it. This acid is the kind which is present in breast milk to help infants fight off disease.

There are a ton of different types of coconuts, although technically there is only one species. Some coconut palms are miniature, rising to only five feet. This is a far cry from the 80 foot specimens in Jamaica . One of the most amazing properties of this nut is that its water is completely sterile. It's been said to have been used as makeshift glucose in the second world war!

The coconut can be found all over the world, being produced for countless different products. The next time you put on some Hawaiian coconut body lotion or eat some coconut flavored candy, take a few minutes and marvel at the path that the coconut has taken throughout its centuries long heritage.

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