‘UALA LEHU

Main Image

Main Image

‘‘UALA LEHU’ (‘Wini’, ‘Yellow Bamboo’)

Status: Held in Collections

Background Information: This name literally means “ashen or gray ‘Uala.” H.M. Whitney takes credit for the development of this cane through the debatable process of a grafted hybrid. Whitney claims to have grafted the buds of the introduced ‘Lāhainā’ cane onto planting stock of the indigenous ‘‘Uala’ cane in 1877 at Keaiwi, Kā‘ū. This cane is also called kō ‘Wini’, the Hawaiian pronunciation of “Whitney,” or ‘Yellow Bamboo’. Several historical sources equate ‘‘Uala Lehu’ and ‘Lahi’, but genetic analysis suggests that they are different varieties.

Identifying Characteristics: Stalks are yellow and flush heavily with pink in the sun. Sheaths are very hairy along center and upper sides. Dewlap narrow ligulate or flaring ligulate. This cane is very similar to ‘Lahi’, except that it is always larger in stature, more robust, and longer jointed.

Stalk Color

Stalk Color

Green or yellow–green, fades to yellow, slight rose flush with sun, burns to orange–yellow or auburn with exposure; wax bloom very sparse

Internode

Internode

Conoidal or concave-convex; bud furrow strongly marked, deep, extending the length of the internode; wax band medium to wide, prominent; growth ring dark yellow or orange, rarely green; root band green or greenish, 3–4 rows of eyes

Bud

Bud

Green, ovate; moderately pubescent with short and long hairs; bud wings green or olive green, medium broad, inserted near the middle of the bud

Leaf

Leaf

Drooped near the middle, medium/long length, medium/broad width, module 20:1–24:1, smooth, numerous, sparsely hairy along the edges, moderately hairy behind the dewlap, serration is very small and well-spaced but tends to be rather sharp; sheath green, often heavy yellowing or splotches of yellow or red, lightly waxy, moderately to heavily coated with hairs down the center and upper sides; dewlap yellow–green or green, occasionally reddish tinge, narrow deltoid or ligulate; outer auricle transitional with a hair group of moderate density and length; inner auricle rounded deltoid, occurs at the dewlap

Flesh

Flesh

Light brown, brown ring near the rind, mildly soft, moderately juicy, mildly sweet, very acrid

Tassel

Tassel

Not observed

Growth

Growth

Semi-erect to recumbent, well spaced, stalks numerous and long

Stalk Color

Stalk Color

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Internode

Internode

Bud

Bud

Leaf

Leaf

Flesh

Flesh

Growth

Growth

Growth

Growth

Bud

Bud

Internode

Internode

Leaf

Leaf

  • 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