What is Kava?

Kava is a plant native to the South Pacific Islands and Hawaiʻi enjoyed for centuries for its health benefits and important role in social settings.

Where is kava from?

Kava has deep cultural roots across Pacific Island regions including Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, and Hawaii. It is traditionally shared during ceremonies, community gatherings, and moments of storytelling and reflection.

kava cultural food

Benefits of kava

A traditional Pacific root drink known for calming effects, social ease, and natural relaxation.

Promotes relaxation

Traditionally used to create calm, kava helps the body unwind without clouding mental clarity gently.

Supports social ease

Shared in ceremonies, kava can reduce social tension and encourage more open, relaxed conversation together.

kava plant l

Helps with everyday stress

Many people find kava eases everyday worries and supports steadier moods during difficult periods naturally.

Encourages better sleep

Taken responsibly, kava may improve sleep quality by soothing the body and quietening the mind.

International Kava Organization (IKO) official logo featuring a white kava bowl icon, overlaid on a tropical sunset background with silhouetted palm trees.

How do you consume kava?

“Kava” often refers to the plant, the root, the drink made from it, and products made with kava, which can understandably be confusing. In simple terms, there are two main ways to think about consuming kava: kava as a tea-like drink, and kava as a supplement/wellness product.

Safety and Liver Health

Kava is one of the safest herbs consumed today by millions of people around the world. It has an exceptionally strong record of safe use.

The belief that kava is harmful to the liver is a widely circulated misconception. This concern originated in the early 2000s and was later reviewed by the World Health Organization and other international health bodies, which found no scientific evidence of liver harm from kava use.

kava tradition