One Of The Staples Of Traditional Maui Weddings Is The Coconut

Many people that travel to The Friendly Isle for traditional Maui weddings know that drinking from the coconut is usually part of the ceremony, but many may not realize the impact this fruit has had on the Islands. Called Niu in Hawaiian, the coconut is one of the reasons that the Polynesians were able to colonize Hawaii.

Niu has been mentioned as far back as 4th century BC, described in Sanskrit and appearing in Indian paintings and rituals. It was taken by traders and travelers from the northern part of India to the southern half and today the coconut tree is still sacred to Indians. Early Polynesian voyagers brought coconuts to Hawaii when they colonized it and the palm made itself at home in the sandy soil.

Like many parts of the tropics, Hawaii uses Niu for food, water, leaves for weaving and thatching, trunks for drums, nut shells for bowls and tools, and for starting fires. Known as the “Tree of Life” in many tropical cultures, the coconut is an astoundingly versatile plant. Perhaps this is one of the reasons it’s featured in Maui weddings so prominently. There are many different types of coconuts though there is only one actual species. Some of the palms are small, just reaching five feet and there are eighty foot giants in Jamaica. One of the more astounding facts about the coconut is that its water is completely sterile. This allowed explorers of the tropics to use them as a food source while sailing far from home and during World War II the safe and sterile coconut water was used as a replacement for glucose by medics.

Because the coconut palm needs sandy soil, high temperatures and high humidity, Florida is the only state other than Hawaii that can grow Niu without special treatment. This abundance of these life giving plants in Hawaii makes the Islands even more special. The inclusion of the coconut in the traditional wedding ceremony makes more sense when you consider the contribution this fruit has made to the Islands.

So what then is the actual purpose of the coconut in ceremonies? The traditional reason for drinking out of coconuts at Maui weddings is to honor Niu’s live giving and sustaining power. It’s a lovely sentiment for a wedding ceremony.