Indigenous spirituality and the håyun lågu tree

By Else Demeulenaere
For the Pacific Daily News

"There are two species of Serianthes in Micronesia: Serianthes nelsonii and Serianthes kanehirae. Serianthes nelsonii is endemic to the Mariana Islands and is called håyun lågu on Guåhan and tronkon guåfi on Luta. This species is critically endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Serianthes kanehirae has two varieties: Serianthes kanehirae var. kanehirae, known as ukall or kumer, grows on Belau (Palau), while Serianthes kanehirae var. yapensis, or gumor, grows on Wa’ab (Yap).

Serianthes kanehirae trees are still abundant on the islands of Belau and Wa’ab."

Read the full article in the Pacific Daily News (Nov. 13, 2021).

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Else Demeulenaere is the associate director for UOG’s Center for Island Sustainability, where she mentors students and leads several forest restoration, endangered species recovery, and ethnobotanical projects. She writes a Saturday column in the Pacific Daily News appearing in the Lifestyle section. She may be reached at (671) 735-2918 or else@uog.edu.