ʻAhuʻawa
Mariscus javanicus
A greenish blue rush with linear leaves 40-110 cm. long. The flower clusters emerge umbrella like at the surface with many tiny spikelets (which contain the seed.) The margins of the leaves are very coarse and abrasive.
He mauʻu ʻōmaʻomaʻo kēia me nā lau pololei; 40–110 kenimika ka lōʻihi. Pua mai ia mauʻu me he mamalu lā a i loko o nā pua ʻoiʻoi nā ʻanoʻano. He mau kala wakawaka ma kaʻe o nā lau.
This is an indigenous plant native to tropical Africa, Asia as well as Hawaiʻi. Here it is found on all of the major islands except Kahoʻolawe but also found on Midway atoll. Ahuawa is common in marshes, loi (kalo patches), along side streams and ditches, coastal pastures, rocky coastal sites, and cliffs.
He mauʻu kēia i ulu ai ma Hawaiʻi nei, a ma ʻĀkia a ʻApelika lā. Ma ʻaneʻi, ulu kēia mauʻu ma nā mokupuni a pau o kēia pae ʻāina, koe ʻo Kahoʻolawe. Ulu nō hoʻi kēia mauʻu ma ka moku pālahalaha ʻo Midway (Pihemanu). Ulu lupalupa ka ʻahuʻawa ma ka naele, ma ka loʻi kalo, ma kapa kahawai, ma ka ʻāina pōhaku i kai, a ma nā pali.
Kuʻi palu ʻia nā hā o ka ʻahuʻawa i kānana e hoka ai i ka ʻawa (Piper methysticum).
Ahuawa thrives in moist soil and full sun, therefore it is an excellent plant for the outside pond. The color of the leaves also adds great contrast to accentuate rock features.
Ulu lupalupa ka ʻahuʻawa i ka lā, i ka lepo maʻū. He mauʻu maikaʻi kēia no ka hoʻonaninani ʻana i kahi loko. Nani hoʻi ka ʻike ʻana i nā lau ʻōmaʻomaʻo i kahi o nā pōhaku ʻeleʻele.
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻis use the pounded stems of this plant to strain pulp out of awa- a drink made from the pound root of the awa plant Piper methysticum.