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A8 LOCAL
Monday 13 May 2024

The legend of the Kibrahacha tree

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

Why You Should Not Miss Aruba’s Free City Center Street Car Tour

ORANJESTAD - Aruba’s City Center view of the down town area with of Call and serves the downtown trolley departs from the cruise port
Street Car - or as we call it in Dutch; a picture perfect scenery of the is- area and ends at Plaza Nicky. The at 5:00pm. Don’t miss this tour of
“Tram van Oranjestad’ - is a single land’s clear blue skies. Who would first ride starts at 10:00 am sharp the beautiful Aruba’s City Center–
track tram line in Oranjestad, the not enjoy a ride on this beautiful with intervals of 25minutes. The last it is free for all!q
capital city of Aruba. It was inaugu- and naturally air-conditioned ve-
rated on 22 December 2012, being hicle? The tour consists of a total of
the first and so far the only passen- 9 stops approximately 200 meters
ger rail service on Aruba and the apart from each other; all stops are
rest of the Dutch Caribbean. There clearly marked. The tram will bring
are two trolleys, a single-deck one you close to different museums,
with 42 seats and a double-decker historical plazas, monuments, the
with 64 seats. The line was inspired Protestant church, Aruba’s high-
by the popular battery-powered end mall, retail shops, and a vari-
streetcar operation at the Grove in ety of local and international cui-
Los Angeles, USA. Aruba’s street- sine restaurants. The “I love Aruba”
cars are powered by hydrogen fuel trademark also belongs to that list.
cells, which are charged by the is- The third stop on the route is close
land’s year-round trade winds. to a 5-minute walk to the famous
Renaissance Marina showcasing
Caya Betico Croes, mostly re- luxurious yachts and Aruba’s blue
ferred to as our “main street” has waters.
been developed into a pollution-
free pedestrian mall. The double- The “Tram van Oranjestad” starts
decker offers you a 360 degree from a balloon loop near the Port