NĀNAHU

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Main Image

'NĀNAHU' ('‘Akilolo ‘Ula‘ula')

Status: Held in Collections

Background Information: Nānahu literally means "coal; charcoal" or can mean "to bite." Some records state that the name should instead be spelt Nanahū, which literally means "bent out of shape; crooked, as a stick." 'Nānahu' is the red mutant of '‘Akilolo' and is synonymous with the post-contact name '‘Akilolo 'Ula‘ula.' This is the primary cane used in making traditional tattoo ink, where wai kō is mixed with the charcoal or soot from burnt kukui.

Identifying Characteristics: Stalks are purple, but often express very faint sparse banding. Sheaths typically show weak variegation with purple and are smooth. Leaf midrib often pinkish. Greater auricle calcarate with rounded tip occurring at or very near the dewlap. This cultivar may be confused for 'Moano,' 'Uhu,' and 'Waialua,' but sheath is more purple and variegated.

Stalk Color

Stalk Color

appears solid dark red or purple, very dark purple with exposure; actually slight banding of olive green underlaid on the red, striping often not easily noticeable; wax bloom very sparse

Internode

Internode

cylindrical or very slightly conoidal; bud furrow deep and long; wax band prominent, medium width; growth ring purple or olive green, tumescent; root band same color as the stalk, rarely olive green, 3 rows of eyes

Bud

Bud

deltoid, long, green-purple, very sparsely pubescent; bud wing red, broad, inserted low on the bud

Leaf

Leaf

very erect, medium/short length, medium/broad width, module 16:1–20:1, short, noticeably crinkled tips, purplish cast, heavy collection of long hairs along edge, serration is large and moderately spaced; upper midrib is creamy white, yellow or pink; sheath lightly variegated with pink or purple, purple flush with sun exposure, moderately to heavily waxy, virtually void of hairs; dewlap yellow or yellow-green, often ringed with light pink, squarish sub-crescent or ascending ligulate; outer auricle transitional with a moderate tuft of medium-length hairs; inner auricle calcarate with a rounded tip

Flesh

Flesh

dark brown, very dark brown ring near the rind, moderately juicy, moderately sweet

Tassel

Tassel

large, open, silver, slightly pink, held shortly aloft

Growth

Growth

very erect, moderately short, compact

Stalk Color

Stalk Color

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Stalk Color

Stalk Color

Internode

Internode

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Flesh

Flesh

Internode

Internode

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Bud

Bud

Internode

Internode

Leaf

Leaf

Tassel

Tassel

Leaf

Leaf

Bud

Bud

Leaf

Leaf

Growth

Growth

Tassel

Tassel

Tassel

Tassel

Growth

Growth

  • 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