Papermaking with Hawaiian Plants

Hawaii is known for its beautiful islands, great beaches, and rich culture. Apart from that, it is also known for abundant natural resources such as its bountiful plants. Polynesians came to this tropical country 1500 years ago, and they learned how to utilize these resources for their daily needs.

One of the uses of Hawaii’s plants is papermaking . In this process, fiber is immersed in water and drained through pressing. It is usually made out of a pulp , either wood, cotton, or starch found in plants. The use of starch in papermaking began some 6,000 years ago, and it became more developed when people started inventing machines to make paper. Among the plants in Hawaii that have a high starch content and are suitable to be used in papermaking are:

· Ulu or breadfruit is primarily used as a medicinal plant. However, its high starch content is making it a popular plant for papermaking.

· Taro has many uses to Hawaiian locals, especially as the main ingredient for Poi , a staple food in this region. Since it is also a high-yielding in starch, it is ideal for papermaking.

· Sweet potato , locally known as uala, is another starch-rich plant that has become increasingly popular in papermaking.

· Bamboo was introduced by Polynesians centuries ago and is now among the Hawaiian plants used to make paper.

· Hibiscus , otherwise known as Rosemallow, is Honolulu’s state flower. It is also used widely in papermaking.

There are so many plants for papermaking . One only needs to know which plant has a good amount of fiber. Different plants have different parts that contain the fiber. For instance, lilies have fiber in their leaves, while okra has it in its stems .

It’s easy to make paper from plants. Materials needed are: plant pulp (done by blending or wiz mixing), mold and deckle , large pans, absorbent material such as a sponge, towels, rolling pin, water bucket, strainer, felt, trays, and optional items such as an apron and thread. These are the steps to make paper:

1. Fill the large pans with water until it is ¾ full. Add about 3-4 cups of pulp.

2. Dip hands in the water and shake the contents.

3. Lower mould and deckle into the pans. Then lift it slowly with gentle shaking. Drain liquid.

4. Roll it onto the felt, hang it to dry.

5. Curing will require it to be left alone for 7 days.

6. After curing, paper can be resized accordingly.

Lisa Louise Adams , an educator, writer and artist, makes really fun book designs using paper made from Hawaiian plants. Her books are all about Hawaii, such as Rainbow of Possibilities and PEPA- How to Make Paper with Hawaiian Plants. At present, more and more manufacturers have tapped Hawaii as a plant source for papermaking. A garden shed, summerhouse or log cabin will make an ideal place to start making paper from plants.