Māla, Atelier & Friends
ULU
The god Kū, before he was known as a god, fell in love with a human woman and worked hard as a planter in her village. When a terrible famine struck, Kū sacrificed himself for his wife and children by disappearing into the ground. Standing over that spot, his wife’s tears wet the soil, and the next day a tiny green plant sprouted from the earth. The plant grew quickly, reaching toward the sky, until it became a full-sized ʻulu tree, heavy with fruit enough to feed the entire village.
That night, Kū came to his wife in a dream and taught her how to peel, prepare, and cook the ʻulu. The people were nourished once again. When villagers later tried to hoard the fruit for themselves, the tree withdrew back into the earth. Kū appeared again in a dream, telling his wife to share the shoots with neighbors and friends. In this way, ʻulu spread across the land. When treated as a gift and shared with aloha, ʻulu continues to provide abundance for all.
ʻUlu (breadfruit) is not only a sacred gift but also a powerhouse of nutrition. Rich in complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber, it is a sustaining food that provides steady energy. Its fruit contains essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, which support immune health, heart function, and strong bones. ʻUlu is also naturally gluten-free and low in fat, making it a versatile and healthful staple. Traditionally eaten baked, roasted, or boiled, it can also be transformed into flour, chips, or desserts, adapting easily to both traditional and contemporary diets.
To eat ʻulu is to receive nourishment for both body and spirit: the body strengthened by its nutrients, the spirit reminded of Kū’s sacrifice and the lesson of sharing. ʻUlu is abundance rooted in aloha, carrying forward the story that there is always enough when we care for each other.