‘Ili‘ōpua

‘ILI‘ŌPUA

All Main Image Stalk Internode Bud Leaf Growth

Main Image

'‘ILI‘ŌPUA'

Status: No Known Specimens

Background Information: No meaning or origin of the ‘Ili‘ōpua could be found. The word may literally mean "cloudy (‘ōpua) rind or skin (‘ili)."

Historical Description: This cane is said to have been virtually identical to 'Kea' except that 'Kea' is always larger, the sheath splotched with red, and with a long hair group extending from the tip of the bud. Some sources have said that this name is synonymous with 'Opukea,' which has similar historical comparisons to kō 'Kea.'

Stalks

The stalks are described as “yellow” by Kamakea, “greenish-yellow” by Moir, and “yellowish-green overcast with gray” by USDA.

Internode

USDA reports a sparse wax bloom, prominent wax bands, shallow but long bud furrows, and olive-green growth rings on the shouldered internodes; the root band, also green, contained 3–4 rows of eyes.

Bud

The buds were ovate with a round-pointed tip and extended above the growth ring; the buds were rather hairy, particularly on the posterior side, and had medium-broad wings that were fringed and reddish.

Leaves

The sheaths are said to have been smooth; the dewlap typically ligulate with the bottom edge rising and then leveling off and the top edge undulating; the lesser auricle transitional; and the greater auricle is small calcarate.

Growth

The growth of this cane is said to have been very erect with compact stooling and clinging trash. It is said to have been a heavy stooler with dense green tops and is claimed to be one of the best known and most used canes in old Hawai‘i.

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Information

Status: No Known Specimens

Background Information: ‘Ainakea literally means “white (kea) pith/bagasse (‘aina)” or “white land (‘?ina).” According to Fornander this name refers to a particular episode in Hawaiian mythology: K?‘ula and K?ne, two powerful akua, practiced their sorcery on the people of Honua‘ula, Maui, and left the bodies of the dead strewn about and exposed. The duo added further insult by snacking on sugarcane grown by the victims to quench their thirst; since this time the cane has been called ‘Ainakea in reference to the white bones left bleaching in the sun. However, many l?‘au lapa‘au sources indicate that the name refers to the flesh of the cane, which is said to be the whitest of all Hawaiian canes – a particularly rare trait for a dark-skinned variety. An alternative name, Laenihi, refers generally to high-headed labroid fish of the genera Hemipteronotus and Iniistius. Another name, P?kea, is a quantifying term applied to Laenihi that refers to a whitish coloration and was used to denote a specific species of fish. ‘Ainakea was one of the few canes used in medicinal concoctions by the kahuna h?h?, and was important in the treatments for p?‘ao‘ao, ‘ea, hilo, and waiki.

Historical Description: ‘Ainakea is said to be [DE1] one of the prettiest Hawaiian canes, similar in appearance to ‘?hi‘a when it is young but lightening in color as it grows. It was often said to be one of the best-producing native cane varieties and was popular cane home gardens, particularly in dry and lowland areas.

Stalk Color

The stalks are described by Moir as “maroon-red and striped with apple-green when young, and changing to purplish-red and yellow when mature”; by Fornander as “red with long white stripes”; and by Spencer as “a ribbon cane, green and purple.” Alternatively, Ka‘aiakamanu compares it to Manulele (a striped cane), and states that the stalks were “dark reddish as the p?polo liquid.”

Authored by: Noa Kekuewa Lincoln.
Please properly cite any use of information or graphics from this page.

Lincoln, N. (2017) Kō: An Ethnobotanical Guide to Hawaiian Sugarcane Varieties.
Retrieved from: http://cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/cane/Home.aspx