Page 10 - AHATA

a8 local
Thursday 30 OcTOber 2025

The legend of the Kibrahacha tree

ORANJESTAD—The Kibra- about three days, as the and went to go fetch Ku- closed flowers at the very
hacha is a famous tree flowers start to fall off and dawecha. Upon telling Ku- top. Kudawecha, experi-
known locally for its bright, the tree starts growing its dawecha that her father enced veteran in all things
yellow flowers that blooms green leaves. The Kibraha- was sick, he immediately Aruban flora and fauna,
for just three days. Scien- cha is especially particular, accompanied Aretima told Aretima to start pluck-
tifically known as Tabebuia as it’s the only one among back to her hut, where he ing the thorns of the tree to
billbergii, and in English as its neighboring trees to encountered her father in climb to the top where the
the Yellow Poui, this tree starts blooming first. a bad state. Not willing to flowers are. Aretima, just as
is native to the Caribbean waste any time, he told determined to save her fa-
islands of Aruba, Bonaire The legend of the Aretima that the only thing ther, didn’t hesitate to start.
and Curacao, and is con- Kibrahacha that can cure her father
sidered among locals as Written by Hubert (Lio Booi) is a home-made potion To her surprise, every time
one of the most spectacu- One day Aterima, who made out of the Kibraha- she plucked a thorn of the the flowers and gave it to
lar trees on the island. But lived west of the hill Sero cha flower. At the time the tree, a bright, yellow flower her sick husband. Miracu-
did you also know that the Warawara, woke up one Kibrahacha was not yet in bloomed in its place. The lously, after just one sip of
beautiful yellow flowers day to find her father her blooming season, but thorns were hard to pluck the tea, the father’s fever
have a story behind them? sleeping in his hammock, the stubborn Kudawecha out, but Aretima continued left his body immediately,
suffering a bout of terrible was determined to bring plucking with enthusiasm and he opened eyes and
The Kibrahacha is said fever. Her mother was very back Aretima’s father back and wonder at the unfold- sprung up feeling new.
to have extremely hard worried, and as was the to health, and so off they ing sight before her. Not
wood—so hard that it can custom in the olden days, went to the nearest Kibra- too long after she was able The next morning, they all
break an axe. In fact, that’s asked Aterima to go fetch hacha tree. to fill her entire satchel with visited the same Kibraha-
what its name means in Pa- Kudawecha, who was a the yellow flowers. cha tree that saved the
piamento: “kibra” (break) epistemophile, to come When they arrived at the life of Aretima’s father and
“hacha” (axe). The flow- see his father. tree, they saw that it was Kudawecha, satisfied to they saw another mira-
ers bloom around April and covered head to toe in see Aretima so happy and cle. The tree was covered
May, but this only last for Aterima wasted to time thorns, with only a few encouraged to help her fa- again in the same bright,
ther, took her back to her yellow flowers, with not a
hut. thorn in sight. And as the
legend goes, from that day
Upon arriving back at on, the Kibrahacha tree no
the hut, Aretima’s mother longer produced any more
quickly made a tea out of thorns.q

Feeling parched?

Grab refreshment by the side of the road!

(Oranjestad)—Touring the island in the blistering heat can
leave one feeling rather thirsty and looking to cool off.
Luckily there are a few stands along the roads of Aruba
that can offer you just what you need: a nice, refreshing
beverage!

These “coconut stands” can be found at several locations
on the island, where you can cool off with delicious
smoothies, drinks, snacks, and of course, fresh coconuts!
Perfect during family outings around the island, these
stands can be found in the following locations:
• Near the red Anchor in San Nicolas
• On the Linear Park in Oranjestad (in front of airport
runway)
• At the California Light House hill
• Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruin
• Bushiribana Beach (Near the Ling & Song Supermarket)