Mahalo for accepting this gift of Māmaki tea.
Māmaki (Pipturus albidus) is an endemic Hawaiian plant, meaning it is found nowhere else in the world. For generations, Native Hawaiians have gathered, cultivated, and prepared māmaki as a traditional herbal tea, creating a lasting connection between people, place, and well-being.
As an organization rooted in service to Native Hawaiian communities, Hawaiian Community Assets is honored to share this small piece of Hawaiʻi with you.
A Plant Found Only in Hawaiʻi
Māmaki grows naturally in forests across the Hawaiian Islands and is one of the few native plants still widely used and cultivated today. Its continued presence reflects the resilience of Hawaiʻi’s native ecosystems and the generations of stewardship that have helped sustain them.
Like many native Hawaiian plants, māmaki carries stories of place. It reminds us that the health of our communities is inseparable from the health of the lands that nourish them.
Cultural Significance
For Native Hawaiians, plants are more than natural resources; they are part of a living relationship with the ʻāina (land). Traditional knowledge, passed from generation to generation, teaches us to care for these resources with intention, gratitude, and reciprocity.
Māmaki has long been prepared as a tea and remains one of Hawaiʻi’s most recognized traditional plants. Today, many local farmers and cultural practitioners continue to cultivate and share māmaki, helping preserve both ecological and cultural knowledge for future generations.
A Reflection of Aloha
In Hawaiʻi, gifts are often shared as an expression of aloha — a value that extends beyond affection and hospitality to include mutual respect, care, responsibility, and connection.
We offer this māmaki tea in that spirit.
Whether enjoyed during a busy workday or a quiet moment of reflection, we hope it serves as a reminder of the relationships that make our work possible and the communities, we collectively strive to strengthen.
Brewing Instructions
For a single cup:
• Add 1–2 teaspoons of loose-leaf Māmaki tea to an infuser or tea filter.
• Pour 8 ounces of hot water over the leaves.
• Steep for 5–10 minutes.
• Enjoy hot or chilled.
For a larger pot:
• Use approximately 1 tablespoon of tea for every 2–3 cups of water.
• Steep for 10 minutes and serve.
Māmaki may be enjoyed on its own or with honey, lemon, or other natural flavors.
About Hawaiian Community Assets
For more than 25 years, Hawaiian Community Assets has worked to build the capacity of low- and moderate-income communities across Hawaiʻi through financial education, housing counseling, and pathways to homeownership.
We believe strong communities are built through knowledge, opportunity, relationships, and a deep connection to place.
Mahalo for your partnership and for helping strengthen communities across Hawaiʻi and beyond.
Me ke aloha,
Hawaiian Community Assets
