Issue 29: Uluhe

He kalo pa`a.

Unpounded taro.

A spinster or a bachelor.

Organism of the Week!  Uluhe, dicranopteris linearis
This is a plant near and dear to my heart if only because it reminds me of my home on the Big Island.  The plant is one of the widest distributed ferns of the "old world" tropics and similar regions.  Although beautiful, it spreads along the ground densely and climbs other vegetation - which often ends up blocking the sun from reaching any low-to-the-ground plants.  This fern grows densely and sprouts and climbs over the old growth over and over to make a deep layer of ferny brush.  When i first moved to the Big Island where uluhe reigns supreme, I would often play in the jungle that was my back yard, climbing ohia and hapu`u to jump into the dense uluhe.  I don't recommend this - the brush was not so deep where we were, but it can easily grow to be some 3 meters deep and often even deeper.  While we would only sink maybe thigh-deep in the stuff, an adult could easily tumble through closer to six to twelve feet of it bef
ore coming to a stop. 
The leafy ferns sprout branches at forty-five degree angles and sprout further branches, so and and so forth - these branches can reach well over 6 meters in length.  This fern grows well in poor-draining soil that lacks nutrients, but can also halt the growth of new trees because of how quickly and densely it grows.
In Hawaii, this fern is a "keystone species" in the ecosystem and dominates many areas of our rainforests.  It is found on all of the main Hawaiian islands.  The nature of uluhe is to grow well in nutrient-deficient environments.  But, when the leaves die, they create a thick layer of dead leaves which contribute nutrients to the new environment.  One helpful thing about uluhe is that by having such a dense thicket of uluhe, it makes it very difficult for other plants such as invasive species to grow, so the uluhe does serve a significant purpose to Hawaii's environment.  Other than that, it seems ancient Hawaii had little use for the plant - it was used only as a cure for constipation.  But in any case, it's a beautiful source of flora these days.

By Sabrina Robello

Sourced: Here and here.


Community Events!
Growing Conscious 1.0, Tues, Apr 30, 4:30-5:30, Manoa Campus - Behind the Art Building
This is a "therapeutic horticulture experience."  Translate: gardening during finals week.  Stop by and check out the free garden, help weed and meet other people.

Issue 28: `Io

E wehe i ka umauma i akea.

Open out the chest that it may be spacious.

Be generous and kind to all.

Organism of the Week!  `Io, Buteo Solitarius
This animal is one that is symbolic and significant to many locals.  On th rare occassion I've seen an `io swoop overhead, I've considered it an auspicious sign.  I know it was a creature related to royalty.  However, as to the more traditional information - I can't say much.  I have no research sources that add to that subject, unfortunately, so please add any information you can below! 
The `io is a hawk native to Hawaii.  It successfully nests in higher altitudes, often in ohi`a trees during the months of March to September.  The `io is a solitary creature for the most part, aggressively protecting their eggs during breeding season.  They are predator birds (unsurprisingly) and feed on rats, small birds, bugs and other small prey.  They used to prey on the Hawaiian crow, but that species is extinct in the wild these days.  Male `io are slightly smaller than females, each averaging in weight at about a pound.  From head to tail they are sixteen to

Photographer website

eighteen inches long - so a pretty small bird.  But still striking with its coloration and sharp eyes.  The feathers come in dark or light - the breast/stomach area is where you can see the difference. 


By Sabrina Robello

Sourced: Here and here.










Community Events!
Hawaii Food Drive! - Saturday, (Multiple locations/times)
It's that time again!  Clean out your pantry and donate it to a good cause, find your local food bank/drive here.
Spring Plant Sale - Saturday, 9 am - Lyon Arboretum
All sorts of plants will be sold this weekend - mostly pretty plants, but there will also be a few herbs and veggie plants!  Check it out!

Issue 28: Aku

Ha`ule no i kana `auwaha i`eli ai.

Fell into the ditch that he himself dug.

Caught in his own trap.

Organism of the Week!  Aku, Katsuwonis pelamis
This fish is one that most local people will be familiar with.  Aku, also known as skipjack tuna, is a delicious, tasty fish that ancient Hawaiians enjoyed much the way we still do.  Fish caught in Hawaiian waters these days weigh anywhere from four to thirty pounds.  But I imagine the fish caught back in ancient times were much larger, much the way other fish and animals were.  Aku are not fish that stay near shore - at their size, it's not surprising that they are deep-water fish.  I'm not sure what the more technical term for it is, but that's how I'm describing it.  Hawaiians did a lot of shallow water fishing and preferred net fishing for that purpose. But for fishing out in the deep, Hawaiians used hooks made of wood, bone, turtle shell or ivory on a line (preferably made of olona) to get aku and other tasty treats from the deeper ocean.
The only treat I can think of that is still made of aku is the dried fish itself.  While it's not one of my favorite foods, it has this oddly addictive quality that makes it difficult for me to stop munching on it.  If any of my readers have any tasty recipes for aku, please add it to the comments!

By: Sabrina Robello

Sourced: Here and here

Community Events:
Lei Workshop for Keiki - 9:30-10:30am - April 13, Lyon Arboretum
This is the third in the lei making workshop for kids, at $5 per family.  Bring some flowers and foliage to work on your haku lei!

Issue 27: Ki

I `ola`ola no ka uewai i ka piha `ole.

The water gourd gurgles when not filled full.

A person not well informed talks more than one who is.


Organism of the week!  Ki, cordyline fruticosa
Most people who have been in Hawaii more than ten minutes have seen ki planted for decorative purposes along buildings, in use as hula skirts, or used in lei.  Ti leaf is in many ways a plant that is a

symbol of Hawaii (in my opinion at least) because of how very visible and useful it is.
This plant can grow from 3 to 12 ft high and sprouts tightly spiraled leaves at the top of a long, tough stalk.  The leaves are long and broad, as many of my few readers will know.  Ti plants come in a variety of colors ranging from the common green to a range of red tones. 
Ti was used in many medicinal activities, often for wrapping a bundle of herbs to be steamed or boiled.  It could also be pressed against a feverish person's body as a cool compress, applied from the neck down and removed once the person's fever had cooled.  Freshly washed ti leaves pressed against the head would soothe headaches and fevers.  Hot stones could be wrapped in ti leaves and applied to sore muscles to soothe them. 
Ti could also be used as more than a tool and more as an ingredient in some remedies.  The steam from boiling ti in water was a decongestant.  Drinking that boiled ti-tea served as a muscle relaxant.  The ti flower could be used in combination with other plants to cure asthma.  Also, a liquor could be brewed from the roots of ti, often called oke.  The roots of the ti are sweet, and when baked can make a tasty treat. 

By Sabrina Robello

Sourced: Here, very useful source.

Community Events!
Taste of Manoa! - Apr. 11 - Thurs - 5:00- til the food runs out! - Manoa campus center
This is a treat that everyone who reads this should go to!  I can't emphasize this enough - if you've got a family, or just a few friends, bring your wallet and check this out.  Five scripts a person (at 1$ a piece), each script will get you one dish from one of the fine chefs showcasing their talents.  The food is good, the price is right, and this only happens once a semester. 

Issue 26: Makahiki

Limua ka moku.
The land is moss-covered.
There is peace in the land, and no wars to disturb it.


Special Brief Issue: Makahiki!
How could I have forgotten to update this exciting blog that follows whatever Hawaiian things I want to talk about?  I blame spring break.  All these extra hours I get to sleep in on has just been too relaxing to contemplate writing anything coherent.
Well, I'm going to try since readership has gone up.  But, in honor of spring break, we're going to talk about Makahiki. 

Makahiki is a season all ancient Hawaiians acknowledged in honor of the god Lono.  During this time, all wars went on hiatus and work was suspended.  The people took stock of their resources and recognized that things needed time to renew to give new life for the next year.  This season started in late fall and ran for some four months or so, allowing plenty of time for seedlings to grow, and for the people to relax in their homes without having their guard up.  They could mend things that needed fixing, teach their kids without worrying about a raid, make plans for the future.  Incidentally, things most of us are currently free to do if we chose to. 
I mentioned that Makahiki was in celebration of the god Lono; now, Lono was the Hawaiian god of fertility, agriculture, music, and peace.  I'll be honest, I don't fully understand the story of Lono and Makahiki, but I invite any knowledgeable readers to comment below and share. 
There were also traditional games that are still played to this day at various Hawaiian gatherings.  `Ulu maika (essentially, bowling with a round stone) and javelin throwing are some of the common ones.  There are other traditional games that are no longer played so much - most probably due to the high-contact nature of wrestling, boxing, faux battles - all of which could easily end with participants getting injured.
If you have more information on makahiki, please share!  We're almost certainly past Makahiki season, but it's something to look forward to next year!

By Sabrina Robello

Sourced: Here and here.

Issue 25: Mai`a

Nau ke ku`I, lohi ka lima.

When one grinds the teeth, the hand slows.

Anger makes one slow in working.

Organism of the Week!  Mai`a –  Musa paradisiaca

The banana is a delicious, delicious fruit that is enjoyed by millions in tasty desserts, buttery breads, and just plain.  Hawaiians also enjoyed bananas and had brought bananas to Hawaii as a staple food.  Hawaiian legends say that Pele’s brother brought the banana to Hawaii from Tahiti. 

I’m sure most of us have seen a banana tree.  Except the internet says they’re actually a gigantic herb – part of the grass family.  The stems can be as tall as 20 feet and 8 inches in diameter, made up of their overlapping leaf bases.  These leaves are arranged in a spiral pattern that are tightly rolled and extend and unfurl as they grow outward and upward.  These leaves can be 4 ft long and a foot or two wide. 

Banana trees will die after they produce fruit, but they produce many baby plants so they spread outward.  Fruit vary in shape, size, color, and flavor, but are excellent sources of carbs (if you really need carbs, unlike me). 

Hilariously, women were not allowed to eat bananas (except for two varieties) as they were under kapu until the early 1800s. 

Aside from bein delicious, banana plants had many uses.  The trunks were used as rollers to move canoes from shore to sea.  Banana stalks were added to imus to produce steam in the pit.  The fiber from the leaves were used for thatching, lei strings, tying, braiding into threads and cloth.  The ripe fruit could be used for asthma, boiled rip fruit could be mashed and used to treat constipation.  The nectar sap could be pinched from the flower bud and fed to babies to strengthen them.  Juice from the bud could be used to deal with stomach problems in general.  Pounded peels of ripe bananas could serve as a poultice for wounds – the inside of the peel have antibiotic properties.  Antibiotic bananas for all!

 

By Sabrina Robello
Sourced:  Mostly Here

Community Events
Ecolounge - Thursday - 6pm-9pm at Indigo
Swing by for green business networking and some free pupus!

Issue 24: Loko i`a

Hala no ia la o ka pololi.
A hungry day passes.
An expression of thankfulness that there was food for another day.

Hawaiian Fishponds - loko i`a

Obviously not my photo.

I kept putting this week's issue off because I've got a paper due soon, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to talk about my favorite innovation of the Hawaiian people - fishponds!  Most of my handful of readers know what fishponds are, but for those who don't, they were sections of the reef that were enclosed with lava rock walls so that ocean water and the occassional fish could get in, snack on some algae and whatnot, but could not escape from.  These ponds were not exactly small either - these were massive enclosures that were huge undertakings for the local people.  The largest fishpond in Hawaii was Kuapa Pond, which I recently got to read about in  my law school studies.  See, Kuapa Pond used to encompass Hawaii Kai and Koko Marina, pretty much all the way to the ocean.  Can you imagine all the fish in that space?  Just about 523 acres of fish pond.  I certainly thought it was amazing.
And while fishing in the ocean at certain times was traditionally kapu, taking from the fish ponds was not.  This was because the fish were cultivated specifically to be eaten by the people, especially in times of need.
Also!  My favorite part about the fishponds is that this is a completely unique innovation by ancient Hawaiians!  They were the first to think of such a thing and put it to action!  So very, very clever.
Well, I've got to get back to my paper now, I just wanted to use this opportunity to share my limited knowledge on the subject with you all.  If you have anything to add or corrections to make, please share in the comments!

By Sabrina Robello
Sourced:  Here and here, but also my own personal knowledge.