Kaʻū News Briefs Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023

A HOUSE IN OCEAN VIEW BURNED DOWN and the two occupants suffered burns on Sunday. Hawai'i Fire Department reported the cause as the 18 year old man lighting a cigarette after spilling gas on himself when filling a portable generator. The single family residence on Keaka Pkwy and Orchid Pkwy was destroyed on the night of October 1st. It was a “total loss of the structure and personal belongings.” Medics took the victims to Kona Community Hospital for treatment. They were listed in stable condition.

MAMAKI IS THE PLANT OF THE MONTH for Lāʻau Letters: Native Plants of Kaʻū, the monthly column by author Jodie Rosam and artist Joan Yoshioka. Read about Kaʻū’s native plants and their moʻolelo (stories), uses, preferred habitats, and opportunities to adopt them for stewardship. This column seeks to encourage making new plant friends and to reunite with others.
    Description: Māmaki, Pipturus albidusm, is an endemic shrub (and sometimes small tree) in the Urticaceae or Nettle family, but unlike its continental relatives, māmaki evolved in its island ecosystem without stinging hairs. Māmaki is easily identified by its almost heart- or diamond-shaped and papery light green leaves with beautiful pink or red veins (although there is a green-veined variety). These colorful leaves can range from as small as 2” to as long as 10”. The small, pale-green flowers bloom year-round and appear in tiny clusters, producing white fruits resembling small raspberries. A juicy māmaki fruit is a sweet treat so don’t hesitate to try one!
    Uses: Māmaki should be a staple plant in everyone’s garden or property, as its magical uses are plentiful. Māmaki wood was used as iʻe kuku (kapa beaters), but more commonly, māmaki was used to make kapa. While wauke (Broussonetia papyrifera or paper mulberry) was the primary source for making kapa, kapa māmaki was also quite common, especially on Hawaiʻi Island. Medicinally, māmaki fruits and seeds were eaten by mothers during pregnancy and by infants, young children, and even adults as a mild tonic. The berries can also be used topically to treat sores and wounds. Today, fresh or dried māmaki leaves are used to make a delicious tea which is good for cleansing the liver, bladder, and kidneys, and can even assist in lowering blood pressure and reducing inflammation. Māmaki tea can be very useful in times of high vog emissions to keep you feeling and breathing your best.

    Habitat: Generally speaking, māmaki grows on all of the main Hawaiian Islands except Niʻihau and Kahoʻolawe, typically within mesic to wet forests from about 100-6,000 feet elevation. Māmaki is often a colonizer of disturbed areas, so if you do any hand or mechanical clearing, please learn how to recognize māmaki seedlings so that they are not misidentified as weeds and pulled! Because of its usefulness, māmaki is often cultivated and planted, though in some instances you may find wild populations. The tiny seeds are easily dispersed by birds and can remain viable in the seedbank for a relatively long amount of time. In Kaʻū, māmaki can be found along roadsides and even in subdivisions, so again, learn to identify and begin to acquaint yourself with this wonderful plant (if you have not yet already). Just remember, always ask the landowner before you harvest any leaves on private property, and always ask the plant for permission, too!
    Growing and Purchasing: Although you can often find māmaki for sale in garden departments of big box stores and local nurseries, māmaki is easy to grow and will propagate readily from seeds or cuttings. Seeds can be separated from pulp using a strainer or by hand by loosening them in a bowl of fresh water. Once in water, the viable seeds will sink and the pulp (and any non-viable seeds) can be poured off. At this point, seeds can either be dried to store, or poured (with water) over a relatively dense media and kept moist and shaded until they germinate, which takes about 2 weeks. Cuttings should be taken from 4-6” material, and soaked in water until roots appear, then transferred to media. While māmaki prefers wet feet (a place that is well-watered), it can also thrive in drier locations once it becomes established. To keep your māmaki at a height for optimal leaf harvesting, pinch prune the upper growing tips to encourage vigor and keep leaves within reach. Cheers to māmaki tea in everyone’s future!