Finally, a natural cure for head lice sold locally

Ukus (head lice) are a fact of life in Hawaii and can turn into a nightmare if not dealt with immediately. The small parasitic insects live in human hair and are easily passed from one person to another - especially amongst three to twelve year-olds. And because of Hawaii’s temperate climate, ukus can be especially persistent and can infect an entire family in a matter of days.

Noni Chalfa, a home-herbalist of Molokai, recognizes the need for an inexpensive remedy that is free from unnatural chemicals.

“I’ve used Rid and even simple kerosene, but I wasn’t willing to put anything toxic on the heads of my children,” she says. “So I found the basic natural cure in an old herbalist book about 20 years ago, and derived my own formula. I was happy with how quickly it worked, and how safe it was on my children.”

“It’s quite simple: Ukus cannot survive in an alkaline environment, so I have a derivative of alkaline in the shampoo. The best way to use it is to wash your head (with the shampoo), comb and pick the nits (eggs) out, and then wash with the shampoo two days later. They’re as good as gone!”

After giving her concoction, aptly named Uku-Ban, to a few friends, the word started to spread about the shampoo. “I think what people like about it is how many heads one bottle can cover,” says Chalfa; “those toxic cures you buy in the store are really inefficient. One bottle will cover just one person; my shampoo should cover a whole family for up to a year or two of applications – and it doesn’t keeps its potency.”

With the growing popularity of the shampoo, Aunty Noni has been convinced to sell her product in local stores. Uku-Ban Shampoo can now be found at Kualapu`u Market, Outpost Natural Foods, G&M Variety and at Mana`e Goods and Grindz.

The shampoo has a rich, aromatic scent and smells somewhat of lavender. Because it’s relatively inexpensive ($10/bottle), it can be used as a preventative measure for families with children who have continued exposure to head lice.