WAIMEA (#4)

Main Image

Main Image

WAIMEA (#4)

Status: Held in Collections

Background Information: This is not a cane name, but refers to the location in which the cane was originally collected. Waimea and Waimea #4 are held in collections as different canes, but close examination does not reveal any consistent differences between the two. The canes will be described collectively here.

Identifying Characteristics: Stalks are yellow–green or yellow with a typically moderate wax bloom. Distinctive characteristics include a very thick root band with five rows of crowded eyes, and ovate buds with broad reddish wings that are inserted well above the middle of the bud.

Stalk Color

Stalk Color

Green, turning yellow–green then yellow with exposure to the sun, very slight rose flush with exposure; wax bloom moderate to heavy

Internode

Internode

Cylindrical or obconical; bud furrow variable, can be deep and long; wax band very broad, prominent, blending to wax bloom; growth ring yellowish or orange, wax bloom tapers before or at growth ring; root band yellow–green, typically wax free, 4–5 rows of eyes

Bud

Bud

Green, ovate; moderately pubescent with short and long hairs; bud wings reddish, broad, inserted well above the middle of the bud

Leaf

Leaf

Drooped from near the middle, medium/long length, medium/broad width, module 19:1–23:1, tend to yellow profusely from the edges, moderately hairy at the base behind the dewlap, occasionally sparsely hairy on the upper surface; sheath light green, often splotched with red, moderately waxy, very hairy down the center and the upper sides; dewlap yellow–green or green, narrow ligulate or narrow squarish deltoid; outer auricle transitional with a light to moderate group of medium-length hairs; inner auricle small calcarate when well-formed but is rarely so, usually appears as a medium rounded nub protruding at the dewlap

Flesh

Flesh

White or very light brown

Tassel

Tassel

Open, broad, rose or deep rose, held moderately aloft

Growth

Growth

Erect, long stalks, thin to moderately wide and well-spaced stalks

Tassel

Tassel

Tassel

Tassel

Tassel

Tassel

Internode

Internode

Tassel

Tassel

Growth

Growth

Stalk Color

Stalk Color

Bud

Bud

Internode

Internode

Bud

Bud

Leaf

Leaf

Growth

Growth

Tassel

Tassel

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Internode

Internode

Internode

Internode

Leaf

Leaf

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