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Natural History

Passion Fruit, Lilikoi
(Passiflora edulis)


Passiflora is a genus with about 420 species. Almost all of them are tendril-bearing vines. The Latin name, which means "passion flower" comes from Spanish missionaries in South America who saw the gorgeous flowers of the vine as signifying the wounds, nails, cross, crown and halo of the Passion (suffering) of Christ. The Spanish first saw the magnificent flowers of one of these plants hanging down in rich festoons from the branches of the trees in the jungle. They thought it was a sign that the Indians should be converted to Christianity.

A dozen or so different passion flower species have been introduced to Hawaii. Some of them became naturalized and because of their vining habit, rapid dispersal and aggressive growth, they are considered a major noxious weed in Hawaii's native forests.

Passiflora edulis is a prolific, woody, climbing vine that is native to the humid tropics of the Amazon. It has large, shiny lobed leaves and produces beautiful flowers and tart, sweetly fragrant fruits and is grown commercially in Australia, South and Central America, South Africa and Hawaii.

It is said that the purple-fruited passion fruit is called "lilikoi" in Hawai'i because the first seeds in the islands, brought from Australia by Eugene Delemar around 1880 grew in Lilikoi Gulch in Maui. The larger fruited yellow variety was introduced by the Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station in 1923 and is used commercially in juices, jellies, and syrups as well as flavoring for various desserts.
Some of the old-timers say the domesticated yellow-fruited variety was called "passion fruit," and the name "lilikoi" was used for their sweeter purple-fruited cousins that escaped into the wilds of Haiku. Whatever. Now the names are used interchangeably.

The yellow passion fruit grow well at low elevations, from sea level to 2,500. The purple variety does better at higher elevations than the yellow. However, the yellow-fruited vines do produce more fruit. Often the plant is grown along fences as an ornamental, but it is also found wild in many parts of the islands from July until Christmas.

The flowers of the purple-fruited variety open at dawn and close around noon while the yellow open at noon and close after midnight. You'd think there would be little cross-fertilization between them, but hybrids that are a cross between the yellow and the purple varieties are common. Purists prefer the sweeter, less acidic taste of the wild purple variety and lament that they are getting harder to find.
The fruit is a medium-sized oval fruit about two to three inches long. The exotic, egg-shaped fruit has a tough yellow or dark purple shell. Inside both varieties is a translucent pulp containing many small black seeds. The pulp is the edible part of the fruit. It is sweetest when the shell is dried and wrinkled.

As youngsters we were often told to chew the seeds when we sucked back the lilikoi pulp out of the shells, which we tore open with our bare hands after "cracking the shell" by squeezing the fruit between our cupped hands that we held pressed between our knees.. Eating large quantities of the fruit with its many seeds was likely to result in constipation, so perhaps that is why. The aunties (and, later, we cousins) strained the seeds out of the pulp using cheesecloth. The strained pulp was then frozen until they were ready to use it for their many delicious concoctions. (A personal favorite was the frozen fruit bars made with the lilikoi juice.)

The yellow passion fruit contains a larger percentage of juice and acid than the purple and both are an excellent source of vitamin A, riboflavin, niacin and ascorbic acid, according to studies by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.

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Arts & Culture

Ukumehame

Ukumehame is the first valley as the Honoapiilani Highway comes off the Pali, the 100-foot high sea-cliffs between Maalaea and Lahaina. It is also the name of the land division, ahupua'a, which included the valley, running from the topmost peak of the narrow valley down to the shore. The view of the valley from the coast is a frequent subject for Maui artists.

The name is explained like this: "Uku" means "to pay for," and "mehame" is the name for two native species of Antidesma, medium-sized, hardwood trees. Therefore, the name is often said to mean "to pay for [in] mehame wood." (In ancient times the wood was used for anvils for preparing olona fiber and the fruit was made into a red dye to color kapa. In more modern times, the wood was prized for making cabinets.)

In his 1940 study for the Bishop Museum, "The Hawaiian Planter, vol. 1," E. S. C. Handy noted that "terraces cover the flatland just below the entrance to Ukumehame Canyon. Only a few of these are not under cultivation." In ancient times, the valley was much more cultivated than it was when Handy saw it. He says," The upper terraces have been long abandoned, and those just above the reservoirs are only half used - that half unsuccessfully, because of insufficient water for flooding. The terraces used to extend well down over the land below the valley, but with the exception of one tiny taro plantation standing like an island in the midst of the cane, all vestiges of ancient cultivation have been plowed under."

Inez Ashdown called the topmost peak in the valley Hoku'ula, a 2,504 foot high hill. The name literally means "red star," and Ashdown connected it to the star Aldebaran, the brightest star in the star constellation Taurus, which forms the Bull's Eye. She said the hill below the peak in the valley's center was called "Hoku Wa-iki" and that it was named for the smaller stars in the constellation of Taurus.
At one time, it is said, there was a reef that extended from the Pali area down to Ukumehame. It was destroyed during World War II military training exercises.

Just past the 12-mile marker on the Honoapiilani Highway, Ukumehame Beach Park, a narrow roadside park, marks the end of the stream of the same name that carved the valley in the face of the West Maui Mountains. The park has a narrow detrital sand beach. The old shoreline name for this place was Pako'a. It is interesting to note that the word "ko'a" refers to a fishing shrine where fishermen left offerings of the first catch of the day in appreciation to the gods for their good fortune. The area is mostly frequented by fishermen still.

Further along the highway, between Ukumehame Beach Park and Oluwalu Beach Park, is a long straight stretch of highway bordered by stone beaches. Next to Ukumehame Bridge, marked by a lone ironwood tree, is the area known as Punahoa, where occasionally the waves offshore are good enough for board surfing. Surfers call the offshore break "Pine Tree" or "Lone Pine."
 

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Braddah-Nics Lexicon

STANDARD: When is this workshop supposed to end?
BRADDAH-NICS: When goin' pau?

* * * * * *

STANDARD: We really are not happy with your job performance.
BRADDAH-NICS: Auwe! You one real poho workah!

* * * * * *

STANDARD: Why are you staring at me?
BRADDAH-NICS: What you lookin'?

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Local Grinds

Lomi Lomi Salmon

Ingredients:

Procedure:

Cover the bottom of a glass dish with rock salt. Lay salmon in dish and cover with more salt. Let sit in refrigerator overnight.
When ready, wash off salt, dice salmon, tomatoes, and onion. Place all ingredients in a clean bowl and lightly mix. Serve as a side dish with Teri Beef, Kalua Pig, or any other lunch/dinner plate with rice.
 

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Spotlight On…

Wai'anapanapa Cave

Wai'anapanapa Cave; a beautifully secluded spot in East Maui where glistening water (Wai'anapanapa in Hawaiian) flows freely over the top of the cave, creating a beautiful waterfall and pool further flowing into cavernous seclusion. However, as is the case with many landmarks of Hawaii, behind Wai'anapanapa's beauty lies a rather ugly legendary history . . .

In the time of Kings, Queens, and birthrights, there once was a beautiful princess named Popu'alaea. Being royalty, the princess of course married royalty; a King by the name of Ka'akea. At first the marriage seemed to be a good match, but as time passed Popu'alaea came to discover her King to be a jealous, abusive, and controlling man. Growing to hate her husband, the princess soon fled from his grasp, finding refuge inside the Wai'anapanapa Cave. Some time passed, the princess lived shrouded in the protection of Wai'anapanapa Cave's hidden coastal cavern. Unfortunately, this protection only lasted for so long . . .

One bright spring day King Ka'akea, still hunting for the woman who dared to defy him, came across the crystal clear pool leading into Wai'anapanapa Cave.
Peering into the mirror like strata of water, to his surprise the king found the reflection of his prey. In a rage he entered the cave, exiting with only the princess' blood on his hands . . .

In the current day, the Cave stands serenely, giving away not a hint of what transpired in generations past, with one exception . . .
During the spring time, the waters of Wai'anapanapa Cave suddenly turn an intense shade of red.
"Officially" this occurrence is simply due to millions of tiny red shrimp whom gather during Spring. A wide belief however holds that these shellfish gather in this spot, at this time, in remembrance of Princess Popu'alaea and the tragedy that befell her.

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