Focus on Health: Kukui Nut Oil
Kukui Nut Oil has been a integral part of the Hawaiian culture, so on this page we will cover the legend, and the legendary properties of, The Almighty Hawaiian Kukui Nut! The Kukui Nut Tree, known as either the Candlenut, or Aleurites moluccana, was brought from southeast Asia from the Early Polynesian Settlers. In Early Hawaiian Monarchy times, only the "Ali'i," Hawaiian Chiefs, could wear the polished shells as a Lei around their necks. Now, However, they are available in assorted colors for every tourist and local alike. The Kukui Nut tree is the State Tree of Hawaii. It has a rather beautiful form, some reaching 80 feet tall, with silver-dusted Maple-shape leafs, and fragrant white flowers. Kukui Oil was originally used to light the night sky in early times, and in some places around the Big Island of Hawaii you will find flattened, black lava rocks with several shallow pits all over the top. This is the Original Hawaiian Candle! It was used by fisherman for night fishing. Other uses that the oil had at the time were finishing canoes and surfboards during special ceremonies. KuKui Nut Oil and Your HealthWhat is leftover from the pressing for oil is the kukui nut's crumbled flesh, commonly referred to as Inamona. The grounds are mixed with 'Alaea, a mineral-rich sea salt coated in red Hawaiian Earth. 'Inamona is popularly used as an ancient Hawaiian seasoning for food. The more common use that 'Inamona has is the benefits that it holds for the digestive system. Constipated? No Problem! Take a couple small pinches of this savory stuff and it will sweep you out in no time! (Careful, though, it tastes mighty good!) Besides coconut oil, kukui oil is also excellent relief for sunburn. If you come into a drug store, and ask for help with your sunburn, 9 times out of 10 they will recommend kukui oil.
KuKui Nut Oil and your BeautyKukui Oil is rich in lineolic acid...an omega fatty acid that your skin will devour. Many a pregnant woman who has no stretch-marks will testify that she had been using kukui nut oil since her first trimester and will have no stretch-marks (I cannot personally guarantee, I tried everything from the first trimester for my skin and I still got a ton of stretch-marks. That's hard to handle here in bikini country!) You can rub it into stretchmarks, however, to lighten them. One thing you will notice when you come to Hawaii is that most of the Hawaiian Wahines (women) have almost no cellulite on the back of their legs. A Hawaiian Elder (kupuna) told me that it was because of swimming in the ocean, and the regular application of kukui oils to their legs firm their skin and pulled out impurities. Kukui Oil is an excellent anti-aging agent and is a great carrier oil for aromatherapy oils in massage. It is also great to use in the ends of your hair once a month to keep them strong and conditioned. It has many of the beauty properties as Coconut oil.
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