`Ulu

Legend traces its origin to a time of famine when Kū, the god of building and war, buried himself in the earth near his home. He later turned into an `ulu tree so that his wife and children would not starve.  Because of this, `ulu was considered “famine” food.  `Ulu was one of the plants Polynesians brought in their sailing canoes when they discovered the Hawaiian Islands. It is a staple food throughout the Pacific, and in ancient Hawai‘i it was a crop of much greater nutritional, cultural, and political significance.

Hala no ia lā o ka pōloli.
An expression of thankfulness that there was food for another day.

I ola no ke kino I ka mā`ona o ka `ōpū.
The body enjoys health when the stomach is well filled.

Pukui, M. K. (1983).  `Ōlelo No`eau.  Honolulu, Bishop Museum Press.