Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 7, 1 July 2000 — Symbols in Lili ʻu's garden [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Symbols in Lili ʻu's garden

By Claire Hughes Dept. of Health 'A 'ohe e nalo, he no 'a na kamali 'i. It will not be hiāāen, for it is a no 'a hidden by children. * ĪHERE IS a growing interest in the symbolic meaning of the indigenous plants of Hawai'i. The Hawaiian culture is based on nature and natural phenomena. It is, therefore, not surprising that many attributes are given to foods as well as to other plant life. These qualities are not the same as kinolau, but are symbolism based on the characteristics of the plants. Records from 1894 document the symbohsm of a few special plants. Following the overthrow of Queen Lili'uokalani, her family and loyal subjects created a garden in a special area in Pauoa that had served as a quiet retreat for the queen. The attributes given to these plants, in reaction to the severe punishment meted out by the provisional government, clearly demonstrate the sentiments of that time. The queen's nephew, Prince Kawānanakoa, representing the ah'i 'aimoku, planted a yellow 'ēhia lehua tree in the center of the garden to honor the queen. It was said that the lehua flowers were "beloved of the gods." As the tree was planted, a chant was offered. "This is the Heavenly One. May the gods protect her as she protects her people." Around this tree, 'ōhai wai and other indigenous vegetation were planted by Prince Kalaniana'ole, another nephew. Kahuna recognized the symbohc meaning of eaeh plant in this garden, and chants were intoned as eaeh plant was put in the ground. The kou tree symbohzed a home, as these words explain: "A house of kou wood for you, O Heavenly One, kou bowls and dishes. Here it grows in Uluhaimalama, a hving tree for the people." Hala polapola was planted. Mele were written about

it and other greenery: Here is your lavorite lei, O Heavenly One. Wear the fruit of hala-o-māpuana, sweet to inhale, a eool fragrance to breathe. 'The kukui tree representing God's word is a kukui, a light for your government, O Heavenly One; your light burning at noonday, the hght of Iwikaui aua, ancestor of Lih'uokalani, the sacred one, the queen of the Hawaiian Islands." 'Awa lau ('awa plant). "May righteousness grow and leaf for your people, your government and youi' thrown, O Heavenly One, the righteousness of the living God." Pāpa'a sugar eane. "May the hands who disturbed the justice of your mle be burned black (pāpa'a), O Heavenly One. May the feet, used in walking, be burned and may the eyes, used in seeing, be also burned." Pilimai sugar eane. "May the love of your people cling fast (pih pa'a) to you, O Heavenly One, yours today, yours tomorrow, yours always. May the benefits remain fast to your land, people and throne; yours for all time." Kea sugar eane. "May your kingdom grow as the kea sugar eane, O Heavenly One. Plant your feet firmly, for here is your elump of kea sugar eane." 'Uhaloa. "They may seek ah the benefits you produce, O Heavenly One, and find them inexhaustible. Here is Hawai'i who seeks the distant places (Hawai'i 'imi loa). Here is an uhaloa plant to signify that all of the benefits of your reign have been surveyed and the kingdom is yours and your heirs'." Pōpolo. "The pōpolo of Kāne, planted above, fruited above and ripened above. Here it grows at Uluhaimalama. Hawaiian 'ape. "Here is the 'ape to irritate the moving lips that utter unkindness, those of the men and women who rebelled against your righteousness, O Heavenly One. Look and see." ■ * (A secret that cannot remain hidden. No 'a is the hidden object in the game of pūhenehene.)

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Of the 1994 efforts to restore the queen's garden, only the plaque and a few hardy kukui trees survive in today's soil and climate, said Jeff Apaka who led the restoration.

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