Another Side of Hawai’i
About Pū‘iwa
‘Awa in Hawai’i
A legend in Hawai’i, the tale of Kaukaieie, tells one mystical origin of ‘awa. Given by the ancestral gods Kane and Kanaloa, and then hoarded by the navigator and eventual king Makalii, ‘awa and its cultivars made their way into history.
While we’re not certain about the origins or names of some current Hawaiian cultivars of ‘awa, the Association for Hawaiian ‘Awa and others have been able to deduce from historical records which cultivars we currently have today. In this legend, a few we currently farm are mentioned: Hiwa, Makea (Mahakea), Mo’i, and Nene.
Painstakingly, the Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) who came to Ka Pae Aina O Hawaii, (the Hawaiian Islands) took 1 or 2 kava cultivars from other islands for religious, cultural, and medical reasons. As a result of these community rituals, 13 different Hawaiian ‘awa varieties have been used in Hawai’i for generations.
While Pū’iwa Hawaiian Farms focuses on the existing 13 cultivars of Hawai’i, we’ve also been lucky enough to acquire additional cultivars from throughout the Pacific. Through scientific research done in the mid 1980’s and early 90’s at the University of Hawai’i Manoa, Hawai’i has been a new home to cultivars previously only grown in Vanuatu, Samoa, Pohnpei, and Tonga. We want to be good stewards to these plants and respect the people that have grown them for thousands of years. As such, PHF is committed to keeping these plants healthy while working with our Pacific neighbors to increase awareness of their kava’s individual qualities.
He ‘awa keia no’u no Awini,
He kanaka lawai’a au
No na pali hula’ana nei
O Laupahoehoenui me Laupahoehoeiki
Na Kane me Kanaloa i kanu,
No’u akua o ka lewa lani, ka lewa nu’u,
O ka ‘awa popolo a Kane i kau iluna,
I ulu iluna, i lau iluna, i o’o iluna,
I hului ia e Makali’i pa’a iluna
I ki’ina ia i ka ‘iole moku ka ‘alihi
Helelei ilalo nei, ulu laha i ka honua
Aha’i ka manu kau iluna o ka la’au
Iho mai ka ‘awa hiwa me ka makea
Elua laua.
O ka papa’ele me ka papakea,
Elua laua.
O ka mo’i me ka mokihana,
Elua laua.
O ka nene me kawaimakaakamanu,
Elua laua.
Ho’awa ko ‘awa e Kane i ka wai
Inu ka ‘awa, pupu i ka ‘ia
No ko pulapula ho Hanoalele
Amama ua noa, lele wale ho’i
Here is ‘awa from me, Awini,
A fisherman am I
Of the inaccessible cliffs
Of greater Laupahoehoe and lesser Laupahoehoe,
A plant set out by Kane and Kanaloa,
My gods of the heavens above and the heavens below,
The ‘awa popolo of Kane, that existed above,
Grew above, leafed above, ripened above.
It was seized by Makali’i and hung on high.
The rat ascended and chewed the rope that held it.
Down it fell, multiplied and spread over the earth.
The birds carried some up into the trees,
The ‘awa hiwa and the makea came down,
A pair were they.
The mo’i and the mokihana,
A pair were they.
The nene and the ka-wai-maka-a-ka-manu,
A pair were they.
The ‘awa of Kane is mixed with water,
The ‘awa is drunk, fish is eaten for an aftertaste.
This is for your offspring, Hanoalele,
Amama, it is freed, it has flown.
Pū’iwa’s Story
In 2016, Mike Munsell of Kalm with Kava had an idea to start farming Hawaiian ‘awa (kava) after trying many of the varieties mentioned in the tale. He knew that the kava grown in this area of the Pacific ocean was special; that the plants themselves had been brought to Hawai’i on canoes a thousand years ago by people who held their kava plants as sacred.
Mike, with his wife Tiffani, bought a few acres of land and with the help of Ed Johnston and Chris Allen, started the predecessor to Pū’iwa Hawaiian Farms. These few hundred plants now form the basis for the next generation of Hawaiian ‘awa. In 2020 Mike Munsell suddenly passed away, leaving a fruitful legacy in the kava world that will continue on through Pū’iwa Hawaiian Farms.
With Mike’s vision in mind, Pū’iwa Hawaiian Farms has three primary goals:
- Reignite cultivation and usage of Hawaiian ‘awa
- Educate the masses on how Hawaiian ‘awa helped form the Hawai’i we know today
- Research and promote the effectiveness of ‘awa in treating various medical issues including stress, anxiety, and sleep.
What is Kava?
Kava, known as ‘awa in Hawai’i, is a plant grown in the Melanesian and Polynesian islands. After three to five years of growth, the plants’ stump and roots are washed and ground. This ground material is then mixed with water to create a beverage. Kava as a beverage is often used to relax and wind down at the end of the day. It’s been shown in studies to help with certain forms of anxiety, stress, and restlessness.
Various forms of dried kava are available commercially, but very little is sold fresh. We intend to change that! In the meantime, head to our sister company, Kalm with Kava, for your dried kava needs.
Any Questions?
We might be busy farming the next generation of Hawaiian ‘awa, but we’re always ready to help spread Aloha ʻĀina. We want to hear what you think!