Turmeric (Pacific)

Turmeric has been cultivated across Pacific Island nations — Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Hawaii — for centuries, where it is used medicinally and ceremonially. Pacific Island varieties are often used differently from Indian traditions: the rhizome is applied topically as a wound treatment, applied to the skin as a cosmetic, and used internally for digestive and respiratory complaints. In Hawaiian medicine, turmeric — olena — is considered a plant of purity and protection. The bright yellow pigment is used in ceremonies and as a topical skin treatment.