Edible Limu
In ancient Hawaii the common diet consisted mainly of fish, poi, and limu. Poi consists of pounded taro root and
limu is the Hawaiian name for algae. Besides adding variety to an otherwise monotonous diet, limu was a source
of valuable vitamins and other mineral elements. Original Hawaiian methods of preparing limu for eating involve
cleaning, chopping or pounding it, salting, drying, and serving it uncooked. Limu were also added to stews or put
in the imu (underground oven) to thicken meat juices. In modern Hawaii, limu is also prepared in other ways that
were introduced by Japanese, Korean, and Chinese immigrants.
Some of the most common edible algae are:
- Scientific name Hawaiian name
- Enteromorpha prolifera 'Ele'ele
- Ulva fasciata Palahalaha
- Codium edule Wawae'iole
- Codium reediae 'A'ala'ula
- Dictyopteris plagiogramma Lipoa
- Sargassum echinocarpum Kala
- Porphyra sp. Pahe'e
- Asparagopsis taxiformis Kohu
- Grateloupia filicina Huluhuluwaena
- Halymenia formosa Lepe 'ula'ula
- Graciliara coronopifolia Manauea
- Ahnfeltia concinna Ko'ele'ele or 'Aki'aki
- Laurencia dotyi, L. succisa Lipe'epe'e
- Laurencia nidifica Mane'one'o
This information was obtained from, Limu: An Ethnobotanical Study of some Hawaiian Seaweeds, by Isabella
Aiona Abbott.
- Laurencia sp.
- Some of the most common Laurencia species that can be found in Hawaii are, Laurencia nidifica, L. obtusa,
and L.succisa. This genus is generally characterized by cylindrical branches that can be found in a variation
of colors. Laurencia nidifica is known as mane'one'o in Hawaiian and is edible.
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- Sargassum sp.
- Both Sargassum polyphyllum and S. echinocarpum can be found in abundance at the Diamond Head tide
pools. This type of algae is well known by Hawaiians who call it kala. All of the Sargassum species look
very similar with golden to dark brown blades with mid rib arranged in large bunches and found in wave
swept rocky areas, in tidepools and on reef flats. These are classified as "brown" (division Phaeophyta)
algae and belong to the order Fucales. Sargassum polyphyllum can be distinguished by short spiny projections
on the stems. Sargassum echinocarpum can be distinguished by round smooth stems and stalks.
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- Ulva fasciata
- This is one of the most common species of algae in Hawaii and is also known as "sea lettuce" in many parts
of the world and as palahalaha in Hawaiian. It belongs to the division Chlorophyta, green algae, and is
grass-green in color. Ulva sp. can be found on intertidal rocks, in tidepools, and on reef flats.
