Pōhuehue
Ipomea pes-caprae subs. brasiliensis
A prostrate vine, up to 30 ft. long, with thick glabrous leaves and large purple/pink flowers with dark purple centers, in rare circumstances, flower petals may be white with purple centers.
He kā lōʻihi nō ia (kanakolu kapuaʻi). He lau mānoanoa a he mau pua poni nui/ʻākala. I kekahi wā, keʻokeʻo nā pua a poni ka piko.
This indigenous plant is found throughout the tropics, here it is naturally found on sandy beaches of all the main islands and a majority of the northwestern ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi islands.
Ulu ka pōhuehue i ʻō a ʻō o Moananuiākea. Ulu ma ke one o nā mokupuni a pau o ka pae ʻāina a ma ka hapa nui o nā mokupuni pālahalaha.
Roots and leaves were pounded into a poultice for wounds,sores, and broken bones. Small amounts of roots and leaves were used for medicine and famine food, too much though, can be dangerous.
Kuʻi ʻia nā lau a me nā aʻa i kāpaʻi no nā palapū, a no nā iwi haki. I ka wā wī, ʻai liʻiliʻi ʻia nā lau me nā aʻa. Akā, pilikia ke ʻai nui ʻia.
Pohuehue is an excellent ground cover for dry, sunny areas and requires little watering once established. Its large purple flowers add great color to any garden. This plant is a very quick grower given daily watering but will fill in thicker with less watering and full sun. Because it is so attractive and easy to maintain, it’s a wonder why these plants aren’t seen in more landscapes.
He lāʻau nani no ka pale ʻana i ka lepo. E kanu i ka ʻāina maloʻo a i kahi e pā nui ai ka lā. ʻAʻole pono ka wai he nui. Nani nō ka ʻike ʻana i nā pua poni. Wikiwiki ka ulu ʻana o ka pōhuehue ke nui ka wai, akā, ʻoi aku ka piha o ka pōhuehue i ka wai liʻiliʻi.
Pohuehue was also slapped on the surface of the ocean to encourage large surf when the waves were small.
Kā ʻia ka ʻilikai me ke kā pōhuehue no ka hoʻonui ʻana i nā nalu.