ʻAuhuhu
Tephrosia purpurea
Small shrubs 3-4 ft. tall with small compound leaves, tiny purplish white pea flowers (about an inch wide) that emerge above the stem lined up on a stalk, eventually turning in to small pea-like seed pods. These plants are short-lived though lasting only about 1-2 years. They do set many seeds which normally germinate before the original plant dies so instead of the original one you planted, now you’ll have four or five.
He mau lāʻau liʻiliʻi ia; ʻekolu a ʻehā kapuaʻi. He mau lau liʻiliʻi, a he mau pua keʻokeʻo liʻiliʻi e kohu like me ka pua mamane, a pua nanea. Ke hua maila, he hua pāpapa liʻiliʻi. ʻAʻole nō lōʻihi ke ola ʻana o kēia mau mea kanu; hoʻokahi a ʻelua wale nō makahiki. Akā naʻe, nui nā ʻanoʻano i loaʻa maila a kupu mai. No laila, i ka make ʻana o ka ʻauhuhu makua, he mau pulapula e koe.
This plant is found all over the world from Africa, Asia, Australia and even other parts of the Pacific. In Hawai’i it’s a Polynesian introduction that is found on all the main islands in extremely dry locations like lava fields, rocky slopes, dry ridges as well as coastal areas.
Ulu kēia lāʻau i ʻō a ʻō a puni ka honua; ma ʻApelika, ʻĀkia, ʻAukelekulia, a ma Moananuiākea. Ua lawe ʻia kēia lāʻau i kēia pae ʻāina e nā kānaka. ʻIke ʻia ma nā wahi like ʻole, koe ka ʻāina maloʻo loa e laʻa ka ʻāina pele, nā pali, a me nā kualapa maloʻo.
Like the title says, ‘Auhuhu is used to intoxicate fish in closed bodies of water (like tidal pools) to make them easier to catch. The plant contains a chemical which drugs certain cold blooded animals like fish. By pounding various parts of the ‘auhuhu and placing it in the holes of the reef, or within enclosed water bodies, the fish would become drugged which made scooping them up or spearing them much easier.
E like me ka ʻōlelo, pōpō ʻia kēia lāʻau no ka pōpō ʻauhuhu ma nā loko a me nā kāheka. He wahi pōpō e ʻona ai ka iʻa e maʻalahi ai ka lawaiʻa ʻana. I ke kuʻi ʻana i ka ʻauhuhu, a hoʻokomo i nā puka o ka hāpapa, a i ʻole i loko o nā loko me nā kāheka, kulu ka wai e ʻona ai ka iʻa; he wai ʻona ia no nā iʻa a me nā holoholona “koko huʻihuʻi,” a maʻalahi loa ka hopu a me ka ʻō ʻana i nā iʻa.
Because of where this plant is found naturally, it would be a perfect plant for those interested in xeriscaping, its short stature and cute flowers are a bonus. It does best in full sun and watering is minimal once the plant is established. Few pests are known to bother this plant making it that much better. Like I said earlier, this plant does reproduce fairly quick so don’t be surprised to find several plants around your original plant, but don’t pull them out, utilize your cultural practice and go fishing! Just make sure to only catch what you would eat and save the rest for stocking the future so everyone can eat.
He lāʻau maikaʻi kēia no nā māla i kahe ʻole ai ka wai. Hauʻoli kēia lāʻau i ka pā nui ʻana o ka lā, a ʻaʻole nō nui ka wai e pono ai. ʻAʻole nui nā mū e pilikia ai ka ʻauhuhu. He lāʻau māhuahua koke a hānau nui, no laila, he mau pulapula e kupu ana ma kahi i kanu ʻia ai ka ʻauhuhu. He mea maikaʻi nō ia i ka lawaiʻa! Mai poina naʻe, e lawaiʻa a lawa ka ʻohana i ka iʻa, mai keu a ʻai ʻuhaʻuha.
Other ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi names for this plant are: Ahuhu, ‘Auhola, and Hola. Also, the word ‘Auhuhu pa’ina which translates as “a time so dry that even the ‘auhuhu plant became brittle” is another word for the collective summer months otherwise known as Makali’i.
He mau inoa ʻē aʻe no ka ʻauhuhu; he ʻauhola a hola paha.