NONI History

Noni is one of 12 canoe plants brought to the Hawaiian Islands. Other canoe plants that came with were ulu, kalo (taro), bananas, bamboo, & kukui. Noni had its own rare difference and power in that it is the only plant brought across the sea for medicinal purposes. Noni bears fruit year round, and soon became known as the "queen" of the canoe crops. 

All parts of the Noni plant were used in more than 40 herbal remedies. The fruit & juice were used to treat heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, menstrual cramps, indigestion, high cholesterol, and respiratory ailments.

Unripe fruit was massaged with salt to manage lesions, broken bones, poisonous bites, and burns. Noni tea from the leaves was used to treat tuberculosis, the symptoms of cancer, depression, and aches & pains of aging and arthritis. The roots produce yellow & red dyes used to tint tapa (kapa) cloth.

During famine Hawaiians, as well as other Polynesians would eat noni berries which led to the current name as the "starvation fruit". Each Noni tree produces 20 lbs. of fruit each year.