PILINA INOA
Explore the nomenclatural relationships between Hawaiian taxa.
Ma Uka. Ma Kai. Flora. Fauna. Fungi.
What is "Pilina Inoa?"
Parupeneus multifasciatus (Iʻa)
Image Credit: Keoki Stender
Saccharum officinarum 'Moano' (Kanu)
Image Credit: Noa Lincoln
Colocasia esculenta 'Moano' (Kanu)
Image Credit: Jesse Mikasobe-Kealiʻinohomoku
"Pilina" has many definitions, but in this context, it refers to a relationship, association, or connection. "Inoa" is the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi word for "name" or "title."
For the purposes of this project, pilina inoa refers to organisms that share the same name, extending past the traditionally studied ma uka and ma kai "binaries."
An example of pilina inoa is "Moano," which is the inoa for Parupeneus multifasciatus, Saccharum officinarum 'Moano,' and Colocasia esculenta 'Moano." Moano refers to the pale red color in these organisms.
Disclaimer On the Hawaiian Language:
There are several well-documented spelling variations and nomenclatural differences across the pae ʻāina (archipelago). Please visit this link for some examples!
Why study pilina inoa?
Hawaiian nomenclatural taxonomy has been traditionally explored through the lens of "ma uka" and "ma kai" dualities, emphasizing the significance of the relationships between mountainous (ma uka) and coastal (ma kai) ecosystems. While this dichotomy has yielded valuable insights into the unique biodiversity of these regions, it has also created a narrow perspective, overlooking the interconnectedness and complexity of Hawaiian ecosystems. The existing literature predominantly focuses on these geographic zones, leaving significant gaps in our understanding of the broader ecological relationships that shape Hawaiian biodiversity.
This project seeks to address this limitation by adopting a holistic approach to examine the nomenclatural relationships within the Hawaiian taxonomy. By transcending the traditional "ma uka" and "ma kai" framework, I aim to uncover the intricate connections between different ecosystems, fostering a more comprehensive understanding of Hawaiian biodiversity.
Halymenia formosa (Limu)
Image Credit: Waimānalo Limu Hui
Vanessa tameamea (Manu)
Image Credit: Will Haines
Order Nudibranchia (I'a)
Image Credit: Karolle Wall
Hawaiian classification is vastly different than Linnaean taxonomy. Therefore, the Hawaiian language lacks words for its Linnaean equivalent. For example, there is no ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi word for "Insect." "ʻElala" is sometimes used for insects, but this is an introduced word, similar to "nūpepa" (newspaper), as both of these words did not exist in pre-contact Hawaiʻi. Instead, insects can classified as "Manu" (winged creatures), "Na Mea Kolo" (creeping, crawling creatures), or even Iʻa (any marine animal, any fleshy animal, or anything eaten with poi as a relish). Visit this link to learn more about Hawaiian classification, and this link to learn about Linnaean classification!