kukui
9.9
A tropical Hawaiian tree that makes hard round nuts
- noun
- /kuˈkuːi/
- US
:
kukui
- In Hawaii, the kukui nut is commonly used to make oil for cooking and skin care products.
Examples
-
Where down below there were a few scrubby kiawe trees, now we see koa with their silvery green, sickle-shaped leaves, light green kukui trees, and a few old sandalwood trees whose leaves take on a pinkish cast in the sun.
Fiction book (1997) -
The kukui tree is often used in traditional Hawaiian ceremonies, symbolizing light and enlightenment.
-
Crafters in Hawaii utilize the kukui wood for carving beautiful decorations and tools.
Compounds
9.2
A liquid from the nuts of a tropical tree that people use for cooking and for skin and hair
Surface Forms
Etymology
Kukui comes from the Hawaiian name kukui, which means 'candlenut'. The word names the tree that gives those nuts and was an important symbol in Hawaiian life.
