Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 3, 1 March 2009 — Grow Hawaiʻi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Grow Hawaiʻi

Home gardens, even lānai planter-box gardens, ean provide a wide variety of fruits and vegetables of high nutritional quality for the family. Sueeessful home fanners save on their food budget and provide proteetive vitamins and minerals to their families, friends and neighbors. My favorite, mangos, are indigenous to Southern Asia. The frrst mango, the eommon mango, was brought to Hawai'i from Manila in early 1800s. Hayden and Pirie mango are larger and 'ono, so are more preferred today. Mangos are a rieh souree of vitamin A and earbohydrates and a good souree of vitamin C. The truly Hawaiian fruits are

mountain apples, bananas and 'ohelo berries. 'Ōhi'a 'ai, mountain apples, are natives of the Malayan Arehipelago that arrived during the earliest migration of Hawaiians. These trees flourish in deep mountain valleys on all islands. Most trees produee prodigious amounts of fruit from late summer through Oetober. Eating just five or six fruits gives you more than the required daily allowanee of vitamin C. 'Ohelo berries are one of a few berries that grow on native plants and were never eultivated. 'Ohelo berries are found only on Hawai'i and East Maui at fairly high altitudes, where they thrive on lava flows, beds of voleanie ash and einders. The berries are eonsidered saered to the goddess Pele. It is eustomary to make an offering to Pele before pieking. 'Ohelo berries are a fair souree of B and C vitamins. Early Hawaiians brought banana

plants with them as growing rhizomes from the islands south of Hawai'i. In aneient Hawai'i, bananas were kapu to women, exeept for the varieties that Wākea designated as noa (free from kapu), pōpō 'ulu and iholena among them. These varieties were tastier when eooked. Two banana mo'olelo illustrate their eultural importanee. The frrst tells how Kāne and Kanaloa travel around the island ehain together. Kanaloa would find a water souree then Kāne would use his 'ō'ō to make a puka to allow the water to flow. Onee this was done, they would plant bananas nearby. Bananas are the kinolau of Kanaloa, the god of the sea. Today, fishermen still don't take bananas with them when they go fishing, so as not to ineur Kanaloa's displeasure that would reduee the size of their eateh. Another mo'olelo tells how Pele was angered by Kūmauna, a tall foreigner from Kahiki, for refusing to do her bidding. He eultivated iholena banana

in a marshy spot in a Ka'ū valley. Pele appeared as an old woman and he refused to share bananas with her. First, she sent eold, then, as he put his hands against his faee for wannth, she overwhelmed him with a stream of mohen lava. He remains enerusted in lava. Hawai'i eurrently has several well-known varieties of guava - eonunon and strawberry guava and others. A native of tropieal America, guava eame to Hawai'i from Australia in 1851. Because guava grows so easily, it has become a pest particularly in forest areas. Guavas are a rich source of vitamin C, whieh is easily destroyed when cooked. Fresh guava blended drinks are the most nutritious ehoiee. The arrival date of the papaya is uncertain. Since papaya has a Hawaiian name, hē'I, some believe that it predates Western contact. Others believe Don Marin introduced it from the Marquesas prior to 1823. However, William Ellis describes "pawpaw apples" grow-

ing in Kona gardens. Solo papayas eame to Hawai'i in 1919. Papayas have been improved, through selection and propagation, for our markets today. Papayas are an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of vitamin A. The vitamin C content of a half-ripe papaya increases by 60 to 70 percent when it is allowed to fully ripen. Hawai'i's climate and soils are good for growing a number of citrus as well. Limes, lemons, oranges and tangerines do well in many areas of Hawai'i. Both tangerines and oranges are good sources of vitamin C and vitamin A. Hawai'i's navel oranges are slightly higher in vitamin A than those grown in other areas. While limes and lemons contain vitamin C, it is difficult to consume sufficient quantities to consider their nutrient content. Find a spot in your yard to grow fruit for your family and friends. Hawai'i's soil and elimate will support you. "Lucky you live in Hawai'i." S

OLAKINO ■ Y0UR HEALĪH

By Claire Ku'uleilani Hughes, Dr. PH„ R.D.

Bananas are the kinolau of Kanaloa, fhe god of the sea. Today, fishermen still don't take bananūs with them when they go fishing, so as not to incur Kanaloa's displeasure that would reduce the size of their catch. - Photo: Jupiter lmages