Got Limu?

Uses for Algae in Hawaii.

and Beyond!

Heather Spalding
UH Manoa GK-12 Program
Hui Malama Learning Center
 What is algae, anyway?
Is it pond scum? YES!
Is it that slimy green stuff on the inside
of your tanks? YES!
Is it seaweed? YES!
Is it limu? YES!
Is it ogo? YES!
Is it nori? YES!
Is it phytoplankton?YES!
Is it a plant?NO!
 Three main divisions of marine algae in
Kingdom Protista:
Chlorophyta green algae
Rhodophyta red algae
Phaeophyta brown algae
 Range in size from tiny microscopic life
to giant ocean kelps over a hundred feet
long!
 Psycho Phycos
phykos = Greek for alga
Phycology = study of algae
Phycologist = someone who studies
algae

Every Phycologists Pet Peeve:

Alga is singular
Algae is plural
Algaes do not exist!!!
Halimeda meadows form important habitat
 Algae is used for many purposes
Fertilizer
Food for humans and animals
Hawaiiian cultural practices
Extracted products:
potash
algin
carrageenan
agar
 Most common algae used for food
worldwide
Porphyra (nori)
Gracilaria (ogo)
Rhodymenia (dulse)
Chondrus crispus (Irish moss)
Porphyra (nori)
Nori: better than potato chips!

Also high in.

Iodine
Vitamin B12
Riboflavin
Calcium
Fiber
 Gracilaria (ogo)

poke!
Carrageenan
Kappaphycus/Eucheuma
(Rhodophyta)
Kappaphycus/Eucheuma
When good algae go bad
 Agar
Extracted from Rhodophyta
 Algin/Alginate & Potash
Extracted from Phaeophyta
Identify, thenIRON CHEF: Limu
1. Identify each alga by Genus
species & Hawaiian name

Use a recipe or create your

own recipe using algae!
 Ulva
(Limu palahalaha)
Sea lettuce
Enteromorpha
(Limu ele ele)
Totally tubular!
 Codium
(Limu wawaeiole)
Rats foot
Common Algae (Limu) Eaten in Hawaii

Dictyopteris Sargassum
(Limu lipoa) (Limu kala)
Asparagopsis
(Limu kohu)
 Ahnfeltiopsis
(Limu aki aki)
 Gracilaria
(Limu manauea)
ogo
Limu NOT commonly eaten in Hawaii
Caulerpa
Sea grapes