Māmaki: The Wonder Plant of Hawaiʻi

Discover the endemic Hawaiian treasure that has supported wellness for over a thousand years

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What is Māmaki?

Māmaki (Pipturus albidus) is a flowering shrub or small tree that is endemic exclusively to the Hawaiian Islands, meaning it grows nowhere else on Earth. Part of the Urticaceae (nettle) family, māmaki is unique among its relatives as it evolved without stinging hairs—a testament to Hawaiʻi's isolated ecosystem that developed without grazing herbivores.

Growing naturally in coastal mesic, mixed mesic, and wet forests at elevations between 200 and 6,000 feet across all the main Hawaiian islands except Niʻihau and Kahoʻolawe, this fast-growing species can reach heights of 6 to 20 feet.

Māmaki Plant
Māmaki (Pipturus albidus) growing in its natural Hawaiian habitat

Ancestral Wisdom: Māmaki in Traditional Hawaiian Medicine

Traditional Hawaiian Medicine

For over a thousand years, māmaki has held a revered place in lāʻau lapaʻau—traditional Hawaiian medicine—which translates to 'plants that heal.' Native Hawaiian healers, known as kahuna lāʻau lapaʻau, used māmaki as a tonic, preventative medicine, and treatment for various ailments.

Traditional Uses by Ancient Hawaiians:

  • Māmaki leaves were brewed into tea to treat debility and listlessness, while the berries were used for pre-natal and post-natal care for mothers and infants
  • The sap was used to treat oral thrush in children, ease childbirth, and stimulate digestion. The bark served as a laxative, while the roots could treat dysentery
  • Beyond medicine, early Hawaiians crafted the hardwood into clubs and kapa beaters, and the fibrous inner bark was pounded into a type of cloth

Lāʻau lapaʻau follows a holistic belief system where physical illness results from a loss of mana (energy) or pono (righteousness), treating the mind, body, and spirit as interconnected. This ancient wisdom, passed down through generations, forms the foundation of māmaki's enduring legacy.

The Science Behind Māmaki: Modern Research Validates Ancient Knowledge

While Hawaiian ancestors knew māmaki was powerful, modern science is now revealing exactly why. Research has identified three primary polyphenolic compounds that give māmaki its remarkable properties:

Catechins

The antioxidant powerhouse. University of Hawaiʻi research found māmaki contains higher catechin levels than Gyokuro green tea, Chinese oolong, and Kenya black tea. These compounds provide anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and neuroprotective effects—with 2023 research showing potential to reduce Alzheimer's pathology and repair damaged neurons.

3× Higher Than Green Tea

Chlorogenic Acid

The heart health champion. Abundantly found in māmaki leaves, chlorogenic acid helps lower blood pressure, reduces cardiovascular risk, and aids in the metabolism of carbohydrates and glucose—supporting both heart and metabolic health.

Clinically Proven Benefits

Rutin

The circulation supporter. Māmaki's rutin concentration rivals Kenya black tea and exceeds green tea. This powerful flavonoid strengthens blood vessels, improves circulation, and helps prevent blood clots—supporting overall cardiovascular and cognitive health.

Superior to Most Teas

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Māmaki Leaf Close-up
The māmaki leaf contains three powerful polyphenolic compounds that support brain and body health

Additional Research Findings:

  • A 2022 study found māmaki tea extract had the highest antioxidant activity among all tested plant samples, with measurements of 40.0 μM/μg, and showed potential anticancer and chemopreventive properties
  • Early research from 1995 demonstrated that māmaki extracts possess anti-microbial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties
  • Māmaki teas contain high amounts of calcium, magnesium, and sodium compared to other commercial teas, providing important mineral nutrition
2023 GeroScience / PubMed Central

Hawaiian Native Herb Māmaki Prevents Dementia

Māmaki preparations ameliorated neuropathology, restored synaptophysin levels, suppressed microglial activation, and improved memory in four different mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies.

4 Models of dementia showed improvement
2022 Sage Journals

Highest Antioxidant Activity Among Tested Plants

Māmaki tea extract had the highest antioxidant activity among all tested plant samples, with measurements of 40.0 μM/μg, and showed potential anticancer and chemopreventive properties.

40.0 μM/μg antioxidant activity
UH Study University of Hawaiʻi ScholarSpace

Superior Polyphenol Content

The concentration of catechins and rutin in māmaki leaves was higher than commercial green teas, providing superior antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective benefits.

🏆 Outperforms leading teas
1995-Present PubMed Central

Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Properties

Research demonstrated that māmaki extracts possess antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, supporting its traditional use in Hawaiian medicine for various ailments.

Backed by science, rooted in tradition

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Māmaki Fruit

Traditional Hawaiian healers used māmaki berries for pre-natal and post-natal care

Mamaki Memory®: Honoring Tradition Through Sustainable Partnerships

Hawaiian Farmers Partnership

At Mamaki Memory®, we don't just sell māmaki supplements—we're stewards of Hawaiian heritage and sustainable agriculture. While we originally grew māmaki ourselves, we've evolved our mission to support and partner with local Hawaiian farmers who cultivate this precious plant using sustainable, organic farming practices.

Why This Matters:

  • We work exclusively with farmers who respect the land and traditional growing methods
  • By sourcing from multiple small farms across the islands, we help preserve Hawaiian agricultural traditions
  • Our partnerships ensure fair compensation for farmers who dedicate themselves to nurturing this endemic species
  • Supporting māmaki cultivation helps restore native ecosystems, as māmaki is the host plant for Hawaii's endangered Kamehameha Butterfly (pulelehua)

Our Commitment

  • 100% sustainably sourced from Hawaiian farms
  • Organically grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers
  • Supporting the revitalization of native Hawaiian plant agriculture
  • Preserving centuries of ancestral knowledge while creating economic opportunities for local farmers

Why 'Memory' in Mamaki Memory®?

The name Mamaki Memory® carries deep significance. Emerging research suggests māmaki may support memory and brain health, with studies showing it can improve cognitive function and promote neurogenesis—the growth of new neurons. But beyond the science, 'Memory' represents:

  • Honoring the memories of Hawaiian ancestors who preserved this knowledge
  • Supporting cognitive memory through māmaki's neuroprotective compounds
  • Creating lasting memories through the ritual of taking your daily supplement
  • Preserving the memory of Hawaiian culture and sustainable practices

The Environmental Impact: More Than Just Tea

Kamehameha Butterfly
The endangered Kamehameha Butterfly (Vanessa tameamea) depends on māmaki as its host plant

Championing māmaki cultivation puts us at the forefront of restoring native Hawaiian ecosystems. Māmaki serves as the host plant for the endangered Kamehameha Butterfly (Vanessa tameamea), Hawaiʻi's state butterfly, and supporting māmaki farms means supporting habitat restoration for this and other native species.

By choosing Mamaki Memory®, you're not just supporting your own cognitive health—you're contributing to the preservation of Hawaiʻi's unique biodiversity and the continuation of sustainable farming practices that honor the land.

Research & References

Umeda T, Shigemori K, Uekado R, Matsuda K, Tomiyama T. Hawaiian native herb Mamaki prevents dementia by ameliorating neuropathology and repairing neurons in four different mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases. GeroScience. 2023.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10828292/
University of Hawaiʻi ScholarSpace. Catechin and rutin content comparison: Māmaki vs. commercial teas.
https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/
Sage Journals. Antioxidant activity and anticancer properties of Hawaiian Māmaki tea extract. Natural Product Communications. 2022.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1934578X221080945
Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawaiʻi. Pipturus albidus (Māmaki) - Endemic Hawaiian Plant Species.
Hawaii Forest Farms. Traditional Hawaiian Uses of Māmaki in Lāʻau Lapaʻau (Traditional Hawaiian Medicine).
Mamaki Memory® is a registered trademark. 'Māmaki: The Wonder Plant of Hawaiʻi' is a trademark of Mamaki Memory®.

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