On March 17, 1930, territorial Gov. Lawrence McCully Judd issued a proclamation declaring the coconut palm or niu (Cocos nucifera) the official tree of the Territory of Hawai'i.

But on May 1, 1959, the 30th Territorial Legislature passed Joint Resolution No. 3, which designated the kukui or candlenut tree (Aleurites moluccana) the official tree of the new state. The resolution pointed out that the kukui tree is native to all Hawaiian Islands and had multiple uses, including light, fuel, medicine, dye and ornament. It further stated that the kukui had continued value and distinctive beauty that embellishes mountain slopes throughout the state.

Let's explore this "multiplicity" factor. Kukui means light in Hawaiian, and the Western name, candlenut tree, further punctuates its remarkable essence.

About a dozen roasted nuts were threaded on the spine, or kali, of a dry coconut-leaf midrib, or a sliver of bamboo. The top nut was lit, and it burned for two to three minutes. The kukui shish kebab was turned upside down until the next nut was lit, and then turned right side up. This process was repeated as each nut burned down.

Torches, or lamaku, were formed by stuffing hollow 'ohe (bamboo) with kukui kernels and other combustible ingredients. The best light was pure kukui oil in stone lamps called pohokano or poho kukui. A twisted piece of old kapa hung over the rim as a wick, or several wicks were used to provide brighter illumination.

The seed cake that remains after extracting kukui oil was used for animal fodder and mulch fertilizer.

Medicinally, the flowers, leaves, nuts or bark of kukui were used as remedies for 'ea (thrush), hakalalu (general debility), hano (asthma), hanu pilo (foul breath), pi'iku (a gargle for sore throat and thrush), kohepopo (unclean vaginal discharge), hehe (boil), puho'a'ai (infectious sore), la'au naha (purgative) and numerous skin ailments.

The inner bark of the kukui trunk supplied a copper-red dye. The most favored black dye came from the pa'u (soot) of burnt dried kukui nuts. The charcoal from these burnt nuts was used for kapa dyeing, tattooing and painting wa'a (canoes). Pilali (a resinous sap) from kukui was overlaid on painted kapa with a hulu'anai (coconut brush) to protect dyes, provide durability and waterproof the kapa.

Kukui's most prominent ornamental value is as lei hua (seed lei). A woven lei of white kukui blossoms and the tree's downy, angular leaves represents Moloka'i.

For classic poke, you need 'inamona, a relish made from roasted kukui nuts and sea salt, sometimes with limu, nioi (chili pepper) or 'ala'ala, the dried he'e (octopus) ink sac.

Spiritually, kukui was the kinolau of Lono and the body form of Kamapua'a, the pig god. A kukui-wood carving shaped like a pig's head was positioned upon the kuahu (altar) of Lono, especially during the Makahiki festival.

With our 50th anniversary of statehood celebration, kukui, for its bounteous sustenance to "the ancient Hawaiians," earns the prestige and esteem as the state tree of our beloved Hawai'i.