Loulu (Pritchardia remota)
Hawaiian name: Loulu
Botanical name: Pritchardia remota
Family: Arecaceae (Palm Family)
Status: Endemic, endangered
Where found: Ni‘ihau and Nīhoa
Water/Light: Dry to moist, full sun
Elevation range: 250 to 800 feet
Height: 13-50 feet

Notes: Pritchardia remota grows exceptionally well in cultivation and occurs in several botanical collections. On Ni‘ihau this species was once named P. aylmer-robinsonii. It inhabits dry, barren rocky areas and on Nīhoa forms large, closed-canopy colonies. Loulu palm were erected to signify a temporary, special 'heiau loulu', where gods of fishing were seasonally propitiated. The leaves were used for thatching. Because loulu fruits are tasty to rats, all Hawaiian loulu are rare.
*Photo courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr
Native Plants
‘A‘ali‘i (Dodonaea viscosa)
‘Ānapanapa (Colubrina asiatica)
‘Iliahi (Santalum haleakalae)
Ōhai (Sesbania tomentosa)
‘Ōhia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha)
Alahe'e (Psydrax odorata)
Hala (Pandanus tectorius)
Koa (Acacia koa)
Koai‘a (Acacia koaia)
Koki‘o ‘ula‘ula (Hibiscus kokio ssp. kokio)
Koki‘o ‘ula‘ula (Hibiscus kokio ssp. saintjohnnianus)
Koki‘o ke‘oke‘o (Hibiscus arnottianus subsp. immaculatus)
Kou (Cordia subcordata)
Kukui (Aleurites moluccana)
Loulu (Pritchardia remota)
Maʻo (Gossypium tomentosum)
Naio (Myoporum sandwicense)
Pōhinahina (Vitex rotundifolia)
Pōkalakala (Polyscias racemosa)
Wauke (Broussonetia papyrifera)
Wiliwili (Erythrina sandwicensis)