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HIWA

For the purpose of this project, "Hiwa" is a qualifying term referring to an organism that is entirely black in color.

Iʻa

Puaʻa Hiwa

Puaʻa Hiwa

Sus scrofa domesticus

Polynesian Pig

Image Credit: Invasive Species Center

Lāʻau

Niu Hiwa

Niu Hiwa

Cocos nucifera

Coconut

Image Credit: Bishop Museum

No picture available.

ʻUala Wehiwa

Ipomoea batatas

Sweet Potato

Source Credit: Aurora Kagawa-Viviani

ʻAwa Hiwa

ʻAwa Hiwa

Piper methysticum

Kava

Image Credit: Hawaiʻi Forest Institute

ʻape hiwa.webp

ʻApe Hiwa

Alocasia macrorrhiza

Giant Taro

Image Credit: Wellspring Gardens

Kalo Wehiwa

Kalo Wehiwa

Colocasia esculenta

Taro

Image Credit: CTAHR

Loulu Hiwa

Loulu Hiwa

Pritchardia martii

Loulu

Image Credit: Jeanne Lindgren

Wahi Inoa (Place Names)

Halehiwa (Hawaiʻi, Hāmākua, Waimanu) - Heiau

Hiwa (Molokaʻi, Koʻolau, Halawa) - Heiau

Hiwa (Oʻahu, ʻEwa, Honouliuli) - Moʻo ʻĀina

Hiwa (Oʻahu, Waialua, Kawailoa) - Moʻo ʻĀina

Hiwalalo (Oʻahu, ʻEwa, Honouliuli) - Moʻo ʻĀina

Hiwaluna (Oʻahu, ʻEwa, Honouliuli) - Loʻi

Maihiwa (Oʻahu, Kona, Waikīkī) - Surfing Area

Nāhiwa (Hawaiʻi, Hilo, Waipunalei) - Point

Kahiwa (Maui, Hāmākualoa, Waipiʻo Iki) - ʻIli ʻĀina

Kahiwa (Molokaʻi, Kona, Waialua) - ʻIli ʻĀina

Kahiwa (Molokaʻi, Koʻolau, Halawa) - Stream

Kahiwa (Molokaʻi, Koʻolau, Halawa) - Waterfall

Kahiwa (Oʻahu, Koʻolaupoko, Kāneʻohe) - Moʻo ʻĀina

Kahiwa (Oʻahu, Waialua, Kawailoa) - Moʻo ʻĀina

Kahiwapalaʻai (Oʻahu, ʻEwa, Honouliuli) - ʻIli ʻĀina

Kahiwapapa (Hawaiʻi, Kaʻū, Kāwala) - Heiau

Kamakahiwa (Hawaiʻi, Kohala, Puakō) - Battle Site

Luahiwa (Lānaʻi, Kona, Keāliakapu) - Heiau

Makahiwa (Oʻahu, Koʻolaupoko, Waimano) - Moʻo ʻĀina

Meahiwa (Oʻahu, Kona, Wailupe) - ʻIli ʻĀina

Waiohiwa (Maui, Hāmākualoa, Honopou) - ʻIli ʻĀina

Wahi (places) were very much considered as alive, with unique phenomena and characteristics encompassing the "placescape. Hence, the naming of places in Hawaiʻi was a very thoughtful, sensuous process, as are all other naming practices in Hawaiʻi. Place names were considered cultural reference points, often named for the resources present, historical events and genealogies (Louis 2011). Can you deduce why these wahi were named/partially named "Hiwa?"

Luahiwa.jpg

Luahiwa Petroglyphs (Lānaʻi, Kona, Keāliakapu).

Image Credit: Kepa Maly.

*Map Coming Soon*

IMG_7829.jpeg

Hiwa

A desirable blackness, in contrast with ʻeleʻele and uli

Cultural Uses

Puaʻa Hiwa

Given that puaʻa (pigs) are ʻaumākua (deified ancestors) or kinolau (body forms) of several akua, ʻohana members, or have personal connections to poʻe (people), puaʻa were a common offering in several aspects. Puaʻa Hiwa, similar to many other species that were dark or black in color, were reserved as offerings to akua, aliʻi, and kahuna. Puaʻa Hiwa was often paired with ʻAwa Hiwa during ceremonies, in that an aliʻi for example, would eat a portion of the puaʻa, drink ʻawa hiwa, and then say a prayer to Kāne. Then, other participants would do the same (with the exception of women, who were forbidden from consuming puaʻa under the ʻaikapu system). It is also noted that the sprouts of ʻawa were referred to as "niho puaʻa" or "pigʻs teeth," further affirming the association of puaʻa and ʻawa (Winter 2008)

Niu Hiwa

Niu Hiwa (dark green husk and black shell) is one of two Hawaiian coconut cultivars and was used in a variety of ways including ceremonially, medicinally and for cooking. An alternative name for Niu Haohao, a young stage of the coconut in which the flesh is soft and white, is "Niu Hiwa a Kāne," which was used by priests in divination. Additionally, Niu Hiwa was kapu (forbidden) to women from eating and material uses. (Handy et al. 1972; Summers 1990). Further, coconut water from this cultivar was reserved for mixing with ʻawa hiwa. 

ʻAwa Hiwa

ʻAwa in general was used in ceremonial, social, and medicinal contexts. Medicinally, ʻAwa Hiwa in particular was used to treat mimi papa/mimi liʻiliʻi (urinary retention). To do so, a mixture was prepared by blending makaloa (Cyperus laevigatus), ‘awa hiwa, awa mo‘i (both Piper methysticum), kī leaves (Cordyline fruticosa), ʻōlena root (Curcuma longa), and ‘alaea and pālolo clays into a paste. Niu water (Cocos nucifera) is then incorporated into the blend. The resulting mixture is strained through ‘ahu‘awa (Cyperus javanicus), heated, and consumed warm twice daily. (Chun 1994).

ʻAwa Hiwa is also one of several cultivars mentioned in a chant about makaliʻi, which associates the origins of ʻawa in Hawaiʻi to Kāne and Kanaloa.

"...Iho mai ka ʻawa me ka makea

Elua laua..."

(The ʻawa hiwa and makea came down)

A pair were they).

Because of its association to akua, the desirable darkness  of its stems, and high potency of kavalactones, ʻawa hiwa was often offered to numerous akua, aliʻi, or kahuna. For hula deities, ʻawa hiwa was offered for knowledge and inspiration. ʻAwa Hiwa was also known to be used in offerings to Pele and sometimes fishing spots (Winter 2008).

It is worth noting there are several other ʻawa cultivars with Hiwa as an additional descriptor, such as: Haʻalani Hiwa, Huanēnē Hiwa, Nākea Hiwa, Palaiʻi Hiwa, and Palaiʻi Hiwaloa, which are distinct from ʻAwa Hiwa. It is unclear if these cultivars were used in the cultural practices to the same degree as ʻAwa Hiwa (Winter 2008).

Kalo Wehiwa

While the derivation of "Wehiwa" is unclear, wehiwa can be translated as "dark," "short dark cloud patches," or "choice/prized choice." Additionally, "wehi" can also refer to adornments or decorations (Wehewehe.org). This moʻolelo discusses Kalo Wehiwa as inspiration for a childʻs name, Hiwahiwa, the precious one. Further, Kalo Wehiwa is considered to be Kupuna Kalo, meaning Hawaiians deliberately cultivated it by selected for certain attributes, which potentially gives clarity to the name, though the term "Kupuna Kalo" is not explicit to Wehiwa, and applies to 300+ cultivars, but many of these cultivars are extinct (Kupunakalo.com). 

Kalo Wehiwa is a lesser known cultivar, potentially because this kalo is an upland cultivar, and not necessarily commercially produced today, though it is noted that this kalo grows well in māla (dryland gardens), and can be left in māla for a while without the ʻiʻo kalo (taro corm) becoming soft. Since Kalo Wehiwa is an upland cultivar, it required more work to maintain a patch, but was valued in that when lowland patches were less abundant, Kalo Wehiwa was suitable substitute and produced good corms and leaves (Kupunakalo.com). This meant mahiʻai (farmers) did not have to scavenge for wild kalo cultivars such as ʻĀweu. Visit this link for a moʻolelo on Kalo Wehiwa!

ʻŌlelo Noʻeau

2035. Maʻemaʻe i ke kai ka pua o ka hala, ua maʻewa wale i ka poli o Kahiwa.

Hoʻopukakū: Cleaned by the sea are the blossoms of the hala whose leaves sway at the bosom of Kahiwa.

Kaona: These two lines from a chant of praise for a chief are used as an expression of admiration.

2317: Niu maka o nālaʻelaʻe.

Hoʻopukakū: Green coconuts for a clear vision.

Kaona: In ancient days the water of young coconuts (niu hiwa a Kāne) was used by priests in divination.

2612. Pāuli hiwa ka lani o Hilo.

Hoʻopukakū: Black with rainclouds in the sky of Hilo.

Kaona: Sometimes said in humor when a dark-skinned person is seen.

Mele and Oli

There are several mele and oli that incorporates lyrics such as hiwa, hiwahiwa, or wehiwa, with most of them refering something precious, beloved, esteemed, or desired. The mele and oli featured below are specific to the species and wahi listed on this website.

E Hīhīwai

This mele was composed by Dennis Kamakahi and is commonly danced by many hula hālau today. The song speaks of the Hīhīwai (Neritona granosa), endemic freshwater limpets abundant in Molokaʻi, specifically Kahiwa Falls. Although the translation of Hīhīwai does not directly correlate to the translation of Hiwa, I believe this inoa to have kaona, in that Hīhīwai has pilina inoa with at least two other species (Neritina vespertina and Grapsus tenuicrustatus), all of which have entirely black shells in at least one point of their life history. 

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