NOT HINAHINA

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Main Image

'NOT HINAHINA'

Status: Held in Collections

Background Information: This cane is held in many collections today under the name 'Hinahina,' but it does not match the historical descriptions. 

Identifying Characteristics: Leaves heavily variegated with white or off-white. Stalks pale yellow or yellow striped with green. Sheaths variegated with white and moderately pubescent. Buds round, fat, noticeably pubescent and with distinct pink or purple wings. This cane may be confused with 'Laukona' but is distinguishable by being larger and more robust, having triangular buds as opposed to round and fat, and having more rows of crowded eyes in the root band.

Stalk Color

Stalk Color

yellow or yellow­–green with light-green or green stripes, flushes rose with sun; wax bloom very sparse

Internode

Internode

straight or slightly shouldered, leaf scars very prominent with a significant lip and often at a sharp angle; bud furrow shallow, extending length of the internode; wax band wide, thinly coated; growth ring striped, more yellow or orange than stalk; root band striped like the stalk, 4–6 rows of crowded eyes

Bud

Bud

green, ovate, short, extending only to the growth ring, sprouts rapidly, heavy pubescence, short and long hairs; bud wings narrow, purple, inserted midway on the bud

Leaf

Leaf

long, broad, drooping near tip, heavily variegated with white, sparsely hairy on edge, very small serration, module 22:1–25:1; upper midrib sparsely pubescent; sheath green or light green, always variegated with white, lightly waxy, moderately to heavily hairy down the center and the upper sides; dewlap lighter green than the leaves, squarish deltoid; outer auricle transitional with a light tuft of moderate-length hairs; inner auricle medium calcarate

Flesh

Flesh

light brown, darker orange-brown ring near the rind, soft, very juicy, mildly sweet

Tassel

Tassel

open, broad, silvery held moderately aloft

Growth

Growth

semi-erect to recumbent, tall, lush broad and plentiful leaves, good stooler, produces many closely packed stalks

Tassel

Tassel

Tassel

Tassel

Tassel

Tassel

Tassel

Tassel

Tassel

Tassel

Leaf

Leaf

Growth

Growth

Leaf

Leaf

Bud

Bud

Bud

Bud

Leaf

Leaf

Internode

Internode

Bud

Bud

Flesh

Flesh

Leaf

Leaf

Stalk Color

Stalk Color

Internode

Internode

  • 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