The early Polynesians brought this large shrub (it can get to be a tree, too) with them. They used the fruit for medicine.

The young (unripe) fruit was pounded thoroughly with salt, and the mixture was put on deep cuts (auwe!), and on broken bones, especially if there was a compound fracture (where the broken bone comes through the skin). Sometimes, they squeezed the juice out of this mixture, boiled the juice, and applied that.

The ripe fruit was used for a poultice to draw out the pus and core from an infected sore or boil. A ring of tapa was made and put around the sore or boil. Then the mashed fruit was put inside the ring, right over the sore or boil, and a bandage tied on to keep it in place. This was done a second time if the core didn't come out the first time.