Pili Grass Roof

Pili grass is also commonly called lule grass spear grass tanglehead and twisted beardgrass.

Pili grass roof.

In hawaii lauhala and pili grass are used. Europeans called it tanglehead because the mature seed heads have a tendency to tangle. We prefer the term pili grass though. In dominica and fiji palm leaves are the most prevalent thatching materials.

It s embedded into the culture and history of hawaii. All with the same intention in mind to give your home or business the perfect tropical shade covering. You can use this unique tiki hut gazebo as an extension of your outdoor living space to put outdoor furniture or hammocks under. Pili grass has been used for roofing buildings in hawaii.

Its scientific name is heteropogon contortus. In europe traditional materials include reed and the less popular straw. The blades of these grasses are tough and strong. Replicates authentic hawaiian thatched roofs pili grass is a common plant indigenous to hawai i.

Pili grass scientifically known as heteropogon contortus is one of 80 grass species believed to be native to the far west american islands. And in florida traditionally we use our native sabal palm thatch. Whether indigenous or a polynesian introduction early hawaiians used pili as their first choice for thatching roofs and for its brown color neat appearance and pleasant odor. Synthetic pili grass by endureed.

These days there is a high demand for pili grass and alang alang thatching. 1 6 8 pili was harvested by uprooting a bunch. Bali s thatched roofs are usually made of alang alang or ijuk while sugar cane is a commonly used material in kenya. It s not clear if pili grass roofs are indigenous or were introduced from polynesia but this thatching has centuries of recorded use in the hawaiian islands.

In hawaiian pili means to cling or stick.