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Natural History

PALEPIWA, EUCALYPTUS
(Eucalyptus spp.)

There are over 600 species of Eucalyptus. Native to Australia and Malaysia, about 50 species of “gum trees” have been introduced to Hawaii, but only about a fifth of these can be considered common. Most of them have been used in reforestation efforts or as shade and windbreaks. They are tough trees, able to withstand windy, dry conditions and have been recommended for use in xeriscaping.

Some species of the trees grow to heights of as much as 300 feet. Because of their rapid growth, they were often used to replace the indigenous giant koa and the ‘ohi’a trees that were logged out of the cooler upland native forest. With a few exceptions attempting to identify the different varieties growing in the wild would be a botanical nightmare. It is usually easiest just to call them all eucalyptus. The trees are commonly grown throughout Polynesia for this purpose as well as for ornamentation and some of the species planted in other parts of Polynesia are used for timber. During the late 1970’s and early 1980’s one local woodsman tried to mill the eucalyptus growing in the forests of Maui and several houses on Maui were built of the locally milled wood.

The trees secrete resinous gums and often have flaky bark. The young shoots of palepiwa may have bluish leaves that are opposite, heart-shaped and stemless. These give way to the typical alternate, long, narrow, leathery leaves with a smooth margin as the trees age. The thick leaves tend to hang vertically or obliquely and some species have a distinctly citrus or peppermint odor. The feathery flowers look like puffballs and have numerous stamens which are often white, sometimes red. They form drooping clusters that eventually become woody bell-shaped capsules that hold many tiny seeds. Tree bark of the various species differs considerably. Some, like the swamp mahogany, are thick and grooved, some, like the blue gum, are rough, and some, like the rainbow eucalyptus, are very smooth with patches flaking off, presenting a mottled green, gray and brown appearance.

The only medicinal uses reported for these trees in Polynesia are from Hawaii. Its Hawaiian name, “palepiwa” means “to ward off fever.” The leaves of several species contain aromatic oils. In a well-known folk remedy, the leaves are boiled and administered as a sweat bath for aches and pains and a number of other ailments. The steam from the boiled leaves is inhaled for treating asthma, congestion and fever and for colds and sinus problems. Liquid in which the leaves have been boiled is applied to cuts, rashes and skin ulcers.

The leaves and the bark of various species have also been used in dyeing.

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Arts & Culture

SACRED HARBOR

Keawakapu Beach is a half-mile long broad expanse of sand which straddles the border between the southernmost Kihei hotels and Mokapu Beach in Wailea. It is capped at both ends by lava points, as are the next four sandy beaches that front the Wailea Resort complex -- Mokapu, Ulua, Wailea and Polo -- that stretch away to the south of it. Access to Keawakapu beach is from the right-of-way off South Kihei Road or from Wailea Resort where public parking is provided.

There is no natural coral reef off Keawakapu, and no protection from the open ocean. It is the same story for most of the beaches along the Kihei and the Wailea shoreline. The force of heavy surf and severe southern (kona) storms periodically devastate the beaches on this side of Maui. Keawakapu has historically suffered the severest damage during these storms (mostly because the privately owned properties that line the beach are part of a large, long-established residential community.)

In January, 1959, a tropical storm eroded the entire beach at Keawakapu, leaving only exposed beach rock in its wake. Thirty to forty feet of high ground and bluffs fronting the homes were lost to the ocean. Old high-tide stone walls that had been hidden for years were suddenly exposed. After the storm, the residents went to a great deal of expense to restore their properties. During the summer the sand that had been swept away slowly began to return. The sandy beach came back.

Almost four years later, in the winter of 1962 to 1963, the beach again was severely eroded by repeated storms from the south. There was considerable damage to the private beach homes on the low sandy terrace behind the beach when, during one of the worst and longest sieges of wind and surf occurring in February, 1963, storms and heavy surf pushed by strong southwesterly winds joined forces with the February high tides. Property losses were enormous.

It was ironic, in a way. The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Fish and Game had chosen Keawakapu as one of four sites in the state as part of an experiment in developing artificial reefs. (The other three sites were located on Oahu.) The experiment was part of a study on the effects of artificial reef shelters on standing crops of fish. Early attempts using specially fabricated boxlike concrete structures had proven successful in increasing fish populations in areas lacking in natural shelters. In August, 1962, 150 car bodies were transported from Oahu to the Keawakapu reef site, about 400 yards offshore from the beach at depths of 80 to 85 feet.

While the artificial reef did little to stop the depredations of the high surf and storms, it has substantially increased the fish populations within the area. In recent years the state has switched to using “fish shelters” made of old tires embedded in concrete. About 1000 of these fish shelters have been dropped into the waters 500 yards offshore.

In 1983 the state dedicated a new launching ramp for Maui boaters on the shoreline between Keawakapu Beach and Kama’ole III Park. The old ramp at the south end of Kalama Beach Park was closed officially on July 1, 1983. Today the Kihei Boat Ramp is the major boat launching facility on Maui’s southeastern shore.

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Braddah-Nics Lexicon

STANDARD: What is the meaning of this, Kimberly?
BRADDAH-NICS: Eh, Kimmie....wha's up?

* * * * * * * *

STANDARD: What did I do?
BRADDAH-NICS: What I did?

* * * * * * * *

STANDARD: Do you want to go with us?
BRADDAH-NICS: What? Like go?

* * * * * * * *
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Local Grinds

BIBINKA (Coconut Rice Dessert)

Ingredients:

Procedure:

Rinse rice and cook in rice cooker.

In saucepan combine coconut milk and 1 1/4 cups brown sugar.

Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until thickened for approximately 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Put cooked rice into large bowl. Put aside 1/2 cup of coconut mixture, and stir remaining mixture and
brown sugar evenly into hot rice.

Put into prepped pan.

Top with remaining 1/2 cup of coconut mixture.

Bake for 20 minutes then broil for 5 minutes to set topping.

Let stand then cut into small pieces.

Makes 45 servings.

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Spotlight On…

RUDOLPH W. MEYER SUGAR MILL, Molokai

Professor, Surveyor, Rancher, Sugar Mill operator. Diverse occupations all held by one man: Rudolph W. Meyer.

Originally from Germany, Rudolph is said to have been sidetracked to Molokai on his way to the California Gold Rush. Marrying the high Cheiftess of Molokai, Kalama, and settling down in the Kala'e region, Rudolph took up cattle ranching in the early 1850's. However, a large scale rustling operation ruined his business; and while the rustlers (an entire village of them) were caught and imprisoned in Honolulu, Rudolph decided a break from the cattle industry was in order.

During this time, Rudolph built a sugar mill on his land, and by 1878, the R.W. Meyer Sugar Mill was open for business. Utilizing then state of the art mule and steam powered mechanisms, much sugar was harvested from his tiny mill. By 1889 though, Rudolph decided it was time for a change once again, and closed the mill to return to his first Molokai passion: Cattle Ranching.

More than a century later, thanks to much restoration and care, the R.W. Meyer sugar mill is once again in operating condition; this time as a historical museum for all to enjoy . .

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