PAKĒ

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Main Image

'PAKĒ'

Status: Held in Collections

Background Information: This name means "brittle or weak" and can also refer to plain, un-dyed kapa cloth. The name may refer to the fact that the stalks of this cane have a thin rind that snaps easily and cleanly. One source stated that the name should be ‘Pākē,' referring to China or Chinese, because the cane came from southeast Asia. No historical references to this cane name were located, but its characteristics are consistent with a Noble Cane variety. Personal communication indicates the late introduction of this cane. The cane commonly gives rise to a yellow and green striped mutant.

Identifying Characteristics: The stalks are often bright yellow, mildly barreled, with a light but noticeable wax bloom. The root band only supports 2–3 rows of eyes. The dewlap is narrow and squarish. 'Pake' may be confused with 'Lahi' or 'Pakapua' but can be distinguished by the sparse eyes in the root band and squarish dewlap.

Stalk Color

Stalk Color

yellow or yellow-green, rarely green; wax bloom very sparse to moderate

Internode

Internode

barreled; bud furrow shallow, extends the length of the internode; wax band moderate, depressed; growth ring green or orange; root band greenish, 2–3 rows of eyes

Bud

Bud

green, ovate, pubescent, moderately covered with short hairs; bud wing olive green, very narrow, inserted near the center of bud

Leaf

Leaf

erect or drooped near the tips, virtually devoid of hairs, serration small and moderately spaced; sheath light green, moderately covered with wax, sparsely hairy down the center; dewlap yellow–green or green, narrow ligulate; outer auricle transitional with a moderate group of long hairs; inner auricle rounded nub, occurs just below dewlap

Flesh

Flesh

white

Tassel

Tassel

not observed

Growth

Growth

semi-erect to recumbent, closely compact

Leaf

Leaf

Stalk Color

Stalk Color

Leaf

Leaf

Bud

Bud

Internode

Internode

Leaf

Leaf

Tassel

Tassel

Tassel

Tassel

Stalk Color

Stalk Color

Internode

Internode

Leaf

Leaf

Flesh

Flesh

  • 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