ʻŌlena
Curcuma longa
An herbaceous plant with dark green leaves up to 4 ft. in length that arise out of dark yellow to orange fleshed rhizomes that most people refer to as roots but are actually underground stems. Emerging from the center of the leaves will be an upright inflorescence that resembles a single large white or sometimes purplish-white ginger flower but is really made up of numerous smaller flowers. This “big flower” is highly fragrant and easily distinguished amongst other members of the ginger family. Like many other ginger plants, ‘olena is also deciduous, meaning that it loses its leaves, or “dies back”, for a few months every year. So don’t be disappointed when this happens, you didn’t kill the plant, its just resting and will pop up again later.
He lāʻau haʻahaʻa ka ʻōlena (ʻehā kapuaʻi paha ka nui loa o nā lau). He mau aʻa lenalena ko ka ʻōlena. He pua keʻokeʻo i pua mai ka pū ʻōlena. Onaona loa kēia pua a kohu like ke ʻala me ke ʻala o nā aʻa. Ma ka hoʻoilo, mae nā lau ʻōlena a kupu hou i ke kupulau.
‘Olena is a Polynesian Introduced plant. Here in Hawaiʻi and is usually found in mesic valleys in areas that were once inhabited by early ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻis. Although not very common today, this plant can sometimes be purchased at various plant sales and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi functions.
Ulu ʻāhiu ka ʻōlena i uka i nā wahi i noho ʻia e nā kānaka. ʻAʻole naʻe laha loa i kēia mau lā, akā ma ka māla e ulu ai ka ʻōlena.
This plant is highly valued in Hawaiʻi and many other parts of the Pacific for its many uses. The pounded up rhizomes are strained and the liquid is used to treat ailments like ear infection or respiratory infection as well as to spice up food. The rich yellow color is also used to color food and dye kapa.
In other cultures, this plant is used to color and spice curry dishes.
He lapaʻau nō ka ʻōlena; hoʻohana ʻia ka wai ʻōlena no ka pilikia pepeiao, a no ka pilikia o ke ake māmā. He waihoʻoluʻu lenalena ko nā aʻa. Ma kekahi mau ʻāina ʻē aʻe o ka honua, hoʻohana nui ʻia i ka hoʻomākaukau ʻai.
‘Olena does best in partially shaded or full sun areas in rich moist soil. Few pests are known to bother this plant. Plant it along side other perennial plants because as mentioned above, this plant is deciduous and loses its leaves for 2-3 months. Don’t be discouraged by this, ‘olena is a truly beautiful and prized ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi plant, it deserves to be in more of Hawai’i’s gardens.
E aho e kanu i ka ʻōlena i kahi ʻano mamalu, a i kahi hoʻi e pā nui ai ka lā. E kanu nō hoʻi i ka lepo momona. ʻAʻole nō nui nā mū e pilikia ai ka ʻōlena. No ka hoʻonaninani pā hale, e kanu i ka ʻōlena ma kahi o nā lāʻau ʻē aʻe i ʻole ai ʻōlohelohe ka pā i ka wā e hiamoe ai ka ʻōlena.
The song “Pua ‘Olena” made famous by the talented Lim family, talks about the beautiful flower of the ‘Olena plant.
Ua kaulana ke mele ʻo “Pua ʻŌlena” i ka ʻohana Lim. Pili ia mele i ke ʻala kaulana o kēia pua nei.