Pāpa‘a

PĀPA‘A

All Main Image Stalk Color Leaves Flesh Growth

Main Image

'PĀPA‘A' ('Pale ‘Ōpua,' 'Papa')

Status: No Known Specimens

Background information: Pāpa‘a typically means "burnt," but can also mean "cooked crisp," "a scab," or "firmly walled; hold fast; tight; turning over and over while falling." The name is said to refer to the burnt-sugar smell peculiar to the raw juice of this cane. The name also refers to a flatfish species (Bothus mancus), often called pāki‘i, and the black-tip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus). Fornander states that the name 'Pāpa‘a' was given because of a certain land being called Kopapaa, the name of which was derived from ho‘opa‘apa‘a, meaning “quarreling.” The name ‘Papa' is found in old plantation records, but is believed to be a misnomer as no traditional references to the name were found.

Historical Description: In general this cane is said to have been virtually identical to 'Honua‘ula,' distinguishable only by "the presence of a very small groove under the eye." However, Ka‘aiakamanu dissents, saying that this kō "has been mistakenly identified by some as the kō Honua‘ula," and that Pāpa‘a "has a dark red color and its leaf is not even like the Honua‘ula's."

Stalks

The stalks of this cane were said by all sources to be deep red or purple, and Fornander states that it is of a dark color when young and changes to red when it is ripe.

Leaves

Moir says the leaf sheaths are purple striped and that there is a faint purple cast to the leaves, but most sources say this cane is virtually identical to 'Honua‘ula,' which has purple sheaths and decidedly purple leaves. While Ka‘aiakamanu indicates the leaves are not like 'Honua‘ula,' he does not describe them.

Flesh

The flesh is said to have been light brown, very dark brown, or reddish, to have had a white center core, and to have been very good for chewing. The rind was hard. There is disagreement as to the texture of this cane, as some state that it was prized for chewing because it was soft and juicy, while others say that it was hard and not so sweet, but these may represent the cane grown in different climates.

Growth

In general the growth was said to be slow, ratooning to be scant, and the growth pattern to be like that of 'Honua‘ula.'

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