'Awa Opihikao

Photo: Hawaiian Cultivars

This variety of 'awa was located by our own keiki o Puna, 'anakala Jerry Konanui in his ohana's aina of ʻOpihikāō, Puna, Hawai'i. The ancient name may have been forgotton today so variety of awa was named after the aina it was discovered in at that time. This 'awa is also called Hiwa pu'u or Hiwa pu'upu'u by some Hawaiians.

 According to Hawaiian 'Awa - views of an ethnobotanical treasure, "Its growing habit is erect. ʻOpihikāō has been known to reach twelve feet and higher. The internodes (punapuna) are very dark and long—up to twenty inches— with many lenticels".

The lenticels are called kīkohukohu by some Hawaiians and also known as pu'upu'u by others. The kīkohukohu are the pores or (pukapakī ) on the internodes (punapuna) and joints (aka) on the stalk (kūʻau) of the 'awa plant. These kīkohukohu are actually pukapaki or pores similar to the pukapakī on our skin. These pukapakī help the interchange of gas between the atmosphere and the interior tissue. The term kīkohukohu means a blemish, and was probably named this due to its physical looking trait on the punapuna. The center of the leaf or piko is greeni in appearance .

This 'awa is similar to Hiwa, yet it is different in that it has more kīkohukohu and longer punapuna than the Hiwa variety. This variety may have been called 'awa Popolo or 'awa Huanenehiwa in ancient times.

Photo: Ka wai Ola

Jerry Konanui of ʻOpihikāō, Puna Hawaii, he keiki loea o Puna.

'Awa Opihikao

Kii: Gourmet Hawaiian Kava

Na kīkohukohu he nui, ma ka punapuna ko ka ʻOpihikāō.

Notice on the kuau or stem in the above ki'i, the kīkohukohu /pu'upu'u or lenticils on the 'Awa Opihikao are many as compared to the small amount on the Hiwa pictured below. This is one way ti tell the difference between these two 'awa types.

'Awa Hiwa

Photo: Gourmet Hawaiian Kawa

Malo adds his testimony as to the 'awa drinking habits of these two gods Kane and Kanaloa in the following chant :

He miki 'oe Kane             

He miki 'oe Kanaloa        

O Kanaloa hea 'oe?

O Kanaloa inu 'awa,

Mai Kahiki ka 'awa

Mai Upolu ka 'awa, m

Mai Wawau ka 'awa,

E hano 'awa hua

E hano 'awa pau'aka,     

Halapa i ke akua i la'au wai la!   

Amama, ua noa,        

Lele wale aku la. 

Active art thou, Kane,  

Active art thou, Kanaloa,

What Kanaloa art thou?

Kanaloa the 'awa drinker,

From Kahiki came the 'awa,,       

From Upolu came the 'awa,

From Wawau came the 'awa,

Homage to the frothy 'awa

Homage to the well strained 'awa,

May the essence reach unto the gods

The tabu is lifted, removed,

It flies away.