Issue 22: `Uala

He `uala ka `ai ho`ola koke I ka wi.

The sweet potato is the food that ends famine quickly.

The sweet potato is a plant that matures in a few months.

Apologies for the late issue!  I’ve been trying to catch up on my classwork which I’d put off to do a paper…etc, etc.  Life is tuff.  Anyways, on to the important stuff!

Sweet Potato Pie in its natural habitat...

Organism of the Week! `uala (there’s actually many varieties in Hawaii, so no latin for this plant)

This plant is thought to be of South American origin, brought to Hawaii by the early Polynesian settlers and was integrated as an important staple of their diet.  There used to be a lot more varieties of sweet potato here, but now there are only a few.  The cultivation of `uala was one of the few farming activities that was shared by men and women.

The plant grows in mounds, ridges, flat ground, from sea level to 5000 feet elevation.  It grows in areas of poor soil with limited rainfall, but thrives in richer soil.  They’re drought resistant and prefer more sun to less.  It can be propogated from stem cuttings, not from the sweet potato itself. 

The leaves can be steamed, boiled, or baked.  The potato is a good source of many nutrients.  It can be cooked in a variety of ways, but in my opinion is best in sweet-potato haupia pie. 

`Uala could also be used medicinally…as a tonic during pregnancy it could induce lactation.  Some varieties of the plant could cure asthma.  It also had laxative qualities and could be made into a gargle to clear a sore throat.  One variety was even used as fish bait. 

By Sabrina Robello

Sourced: Here again, check it out for some excellent info

Community Events!
Oceania Rising! - March 1 5-7:30pm - Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, Manoa Campus
This event was organised in remembrance of the 59th anniversary of the nuclear test in Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands.  Speakers for social justice and peace will share their peoples' histories and experiences.

Issue 21: 'Ape

E `opu ali`i.
Have the heart of a chief.
Have the kindness, generosity, and even temper of a chief. 

Organism of the Week!  `Ape - alocasia macrorrhiza

This plant is sometimes called elephant's ear, but in Hawaii is often known as that one plant that looks like taro.  As you can see from this picture, it's pretty obvious why.  The plant has heart shaped leaves that can grow to be 2-4 ft long, and the plant prefers a moist, shady environment.
Like taro this plant has an edible corm that is only safe to eat after a long cooking time.  This was not a food that was eaten commonly though, only in times of famine.  So I'd guess it doesn't taste too great.
The `ape could also be used to dye ipu and as a medicinal ingredient.  The juice from the fresh cut stems could soothe the skin when exposed to itchy plants.  The leaves could be used similar to ti leaves - wrapped around a fevered person, the cool leaves would provide some comfort.  The plant also had some spiritual properties - the bitter sap was supposed to scare off bad spirits. 

By Sabrina

Sourced: Here

Community Events!
Waves of Change  - Feb. 22 - 2 - 3:15pm - Moore 319
The continuation of a lecture series, free to the public.  This lecture is regarding the indicators and effects of climate change on pacific islands. 

Issue 20: Ipu Awaawa

 Keke`e ka waha, ua nahu i ka makani.
His mouth is wry after biting the wind.
Said of one who has found that what he said of others is true of himself.


Organism of the week!  Ipu awaawa, lagenaria siceraria

This plant is related to the pumpkin and other squash plants.  It grows as a vine in hot, sunny areas and can apparently live off relatively little water.  The internet says this iconic plant actually prefers a dry, hot climate.  The plant can grow over other plants as well, with stems reaching 10 - 20 ft in length.  The ipu awaawa grows best in these hot climates at an elevation below 1500 ft, and is supposed to be fairly easy to grow.  I understand that there are other issues related to the growing of ipu though, such as diseases it may catch that can wither the plant, so it sounds like climate and environment are less of an issue than that.
The ipu awaawa was a bitter plant and was used medicinally and as containers.  Supposedly Hawaiians used the ipu more extensively than any other Pacific Islander people, but I'm not 100% on that. 
Then again, ipus were also used as musical instruments.  Pear shaped ipu could be turned into a whistle, ipu hokiokio, or rattles, `uli`uli, or ipu hula which beat out the familiar u-te-te rhythm.

By Sabrina Robello

Sourced: Here and here.

Community Events!
Lei Workshop for the Keiki - 9:30 - 10:30, 10:30-11:30 - Lyon Arboretum
This event requires you to preregister so check the UH Manoa campus events calendar to do so!  Five dollars will pay for your whole family to sit down and learn to string leis and learn the traditional Hawaiian method of lei-making.
 21st Annual Conservation Conference Registration - July 16-18 - Hawaii Convention Center
This program runs through a weekend in the summer and before you lose interest, students can go for the low, low price of $50!  This program will run a variety of lectures focused on improving Hawaii, and given that the normal price is approximately seven times that, my few readers should definitely take advantage of this opportunity!  Check out hawaiiconservation.org to register early.

Issue 20: Pia

Ihea `oe i ka wa* a ka ua e loku ana?
Where were you when the rain was pouring?
A reference to fair-weather friends; those who disappear when times are difficult.

Organism of the Week!  Pia, Tacca leontopetaloides

This is not Pia.  The internet has a dearth of
pictures of the plant, but this is a similar species
I believe.

Celebrate, my vast readership!  For today we cover pia, the starchy root that allowed Hawaiians to make the tasty dessert haupia!
Pia is one of the plants ancient Polynesians brought with them in their canoes when they first voyaged across the Pacific to Hawaii.  Pia is the Polynesian arrowroot and is bitter and starchy when it's not in the delicious form of haupia. 
The plant grows to be 1 to 3 feet tall and grows in wet woods at low altitudes.  It was so useful that it was widely cultivated alongside taro.  The leaves also die off in the winter and the root will remain dormant until spring to sprout up again.
Hawaiians processed the root by grating or pounding it in a bowl and let it sit with water.  The starch would settle to the bottom and the bitterness would be released into the water.  The water would be poured out daily and replaced with fresh water while the starch sat at the bottom.  This would draw out all the bitterness, apparently.  Once it was gone, the starch would be spread on flat rocks to dry, then scraped off and ground into a powder.  If the starch was not needed immediately it was formed into small cakes and stored.
Is that not amazing?  I think it's pretty amazing.  I love learning about how ancient peoples did things and this is right up my alley.  Also, I mentioned that this root is how haupia was made to Ryan and he popped right up to make some.  Haupia moves people :)
Anyways.  The starch would be mixed with coconut milk then steamed or baked to make haupia.  The starch could be used the way starch is in many households, to stiffen fabrics.  But it also had medicinal properties - the starch could be mixed with water and alae to cure dysentery and diarrhea.

By Sabrina Robello
Sourced: Here mostly, an excellent site for Hawaiian canoe plant information

Community Events
Green Drinks - Tues. Feb. 5, 5:30pm-7:30pm, P.F. Chang's
Networking with conservation-minded business peoples.
Kako`o `Oiwi - Sat, Feb. 9, 8:30am-12pm; 46-403 Kamehameha Highway Kāneʻohe HI 96744
Lo`i work day!

* I've decided to tackle the issue of kahako's with a strikethrough.  If someone knows how to do this on a blog, please let me know.