About Chenopodium oahuense (Meyen) Aellen
Chenopodium oahuense (Meyen) Aellen is a species of flowering plant in the amaranth family, known by the common names aweoweo, alaweo, alaweo huna, aheahea, ahea, ahewahewa, and kahaihai. It is endemic to Hawaii. It grows on all of Hawaii’s larger islands except Kahoolawe, and can also be found on Lisianski Island, Laysan, the French Frigate Shoals, Necker Island, and Nīhoa. This species is a shrub that can reach a height of 5 to 20 meters. Its leaf blades are fleshy, lightly hairy, and have three lobes. The inflorescence is a panicle made up of small flowers. Chenopodium oahuense can be used for Hawaiian ecosystem restoration and erosion control. Sooty terns and red-footed boobies use this plant as nesting material. For Hawaiian people, the wood of this plant is used to make shark hooks, and its cooked leaves are eaten similarly to related spinach. The bark was traditionally used to beautify skin, and it was consumed by nursing mothers to promote beautified skin during child development. Mixed with other native herbs, this plant was also used to help children gain weight.
