awapuhi
|a-wa-pu-hi|
/əwəˈpuːhi/
Hawaiian shampoo ginger (a fragrant ginger plant)
Etymology
'awapuhi' originates from Hawaiian, specifically the word 'ʻawapuhi', where the term referred to the local ginger plant used in household and medicinal contexts.
'awapuhi' was borrowed into English in the 19th century during increased contact with Hawaiian culture and botanical study; the English form is directly taken from the Hawaiian 'ʻawapuhi' and has been used in botanical and ethnobotanical contexts to refer to Zingiber zerumbet.
Initially it meant 'the local ginger plant used for washing and medicinal purposes', and over time it has retained that specific botanical and cultural meaning in English.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a Hawaiian ginger (Zingiber zerumbet), also called 'shampoo ginger' or 'pinecone ginger'; its aromatic rhizome and cone-like flower bracts are used traditionally for shampooing, perfume, culinary flavoring in some cultures, and medicinal purposes.
Awapuhi grows wild in damp, shaded valleys across the islands and was traditionally used by Hawaiians as a natural hair cleanser.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/04 07:22