Maile

''Alyxia stellata'', known as ''maile'' in Hawaiian, is a species of flowering plant in the dogbane family, ''Apocynaceae'', that is native to Hawaii. It grows as either a twining liana, scandent shrub, or small erect shrub, and is one of the few vines that are endemic to the islands. The binomial nomenclature means "chain resembling olive" in Latin. The leaves are usually ternate, sometimes opposite, and can show both types on the same stem.Wagner et al. 1990
Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii
1, University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, p. 214 Flowers are quite inconspicuous and have a sweet and light fragrance of honey. The bark is most fragrant and exudes a slightly sticky, milky sap when punctured, characteristic of the family Apocynaceae. The entire plant contains coumarin, a sweet-smelling compound that is also present in vanilla grass (''Anthoxanthum odoratum''), woodruff (''Galium odoratum'') and mullein (''Verbascum'' spp.). Fruit are oval and dark purple when ripe. ''Maile'' is a morphologically variable plant and the Hawaiian names reflect this (see Ethnobotany section).

Distribution and habitat

''Maile'' can occur in most types of vegetation at elevations from on all of the main Hawaiian Islands, however it is believed that both Kahoolawe and Niihau likely had populations of the species before large-scale disturbances occurred. Lowland wet forests occur from elevation in the Hawaiian Islands and are prime habitat for ''maile'', receiving of rainfall annually. ''Maile'' is also found in montane mesic and wet communities.

Ethnobotanical uses

Lei

''Maile'' is traditionally and still most popularly used in '' lei''. The vines are prepared and twined together to make an open ''lei'' or if people prefer they can close it. In more rural areas it is typical for someone to pick their own ''maile'' if accessible, however because ''lei maile'' is so desirable, many floral shops carry these kinds of lei. It is one of the only endemic Hawaiian plants grown commercially for lei. Commercial ''maile'' plantationsKa Wai Ola. Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
. have become more common as some people feel that imported (non-Hawaiian) ''maile'' is not as fragrant as Hawaiian ''maile''.

Lāau Lapaau

This plant was used medicinally to treat ''puho'', ''puka puhi'', ''kaupo'', and '' na eha moku kukonukonu e ae'' (other cuts). ''Maile kaluhea'' was mashed with ''aukoi'' ('' Senna occidentalis'') stalks, ''ahakea'' ('' Bobea'' spp.) and ''koa'' (''Acacia koa'') bark. After water is added to this mixture and heated, it is put on infected areas to clean.

Local tradition

''Lei maile'' are often worn by the groom, and also by the groom's men in weddings which is a lovely sight. For high school proms in Hawaii, the boy is often given a ''lei maile''. Birthdays, graduations, anniversaries and any celebration for that matter are all an occasion for ''lei maile'', however many responsible stewards to the land understand there is not enough ''maile'' to go around for everyone. This ties back in to local ''maile'' plantations that have started up.

Kapa

Kapa, pounded wauke ('' Broussonetia papyrifera'') is traditionally scented using fragrant plants such as ''maile'', ''mokihana'' ('' Melicope anisata''), ''lauae'' ('' Phymatosorus scolopendria''), ''iliahi'' ('' Santalum'' spp.) and ''kamani'' ('' Calophyllum inophyllum'').

Conservation

Because ''maile'' is desirable for harvesting it is often incorporated into restoration plantings which can help bring the community into the conservation process.The Garden Island
. One study looked at the potential of planting native Hawaiian plants as an understory layer to reduce weedy seedlings from sprouting up and gaining hold again in a restored area. ''Maile'', ''māmaki'' ('' Pipturus albidus'') and ''palapalai'' ('' Microlepia strigosa'') were the plants used.

Folklore

Mention of the maile plant occurs in various stories ('' moolelo''), proverbs (''ōlelo noeau''), and in the song (''mele'') "Lei Awapuhi".

Lāieikawai

The maile sisters are a favorite stock characters in Hawaiian romance tales. The story of Lāieikawai tells of five ''Maile'' sisters. ''Maile hai wale'' (brittle ''maile''), ''Maile lau lii'' (small-leaved ''maile''), ''Maile lau nui'' (large-leaved ''maile''), ''Maile kaluhea'' (sweet-scented ''maile''), and ''Maile pakaha'' (blunt-leaved ''maile'').
Kauai's ''maile lau lii'' is often celebrated in song and chant. The ōlelo noeau, ''Ka maile lau lii o Koiahi'' speaks of the "fine-leaved" ''maile'' of Kokee, Kauai which had one of the best and most fragrant ''maile lau lii'' in Hawaii and was praised in old chants. Because ''maile'' was often placed on '' heiau'' in traditional times, the older generations of Hawaiians say that the fragrance of maile still lingers in those areas where ''heiau'' once stood or are still standing.

Puna and Panaewa

Several ōlelo noeau from the Hilo and Puna districts on Hawaii Island paint a wonderfully fragrant picture of Puna and Panaewa. ''Ka makani hali ala o Puna'', the fragrance-bearing wind of Puna; , Hanakahi is adorned with the fragrance and perfume of Panaewa. These were both places that had a moist climate suitable for maile and other fragrant ferns, as well as the famous hala ('' Pandanus tectorius'') from Puna. The phrase ''Puna paia ala'', fragrant walls of Puna, gives reference to the ''hīnano'' blossom which was famously hung inside ''hale'' of that district to scent the house. People traveled to both Puna and Panaewa in order to pick maile, hence those areas being remembered as fragrant.

Mōlī

Mary Kawena Pukui tells a story from Kaū on Hawaii Island of a beautiful young woman, Mōlī, whose father will let none other than a fisherman marry her (a good fisherman is well liked and prosperous because of the food he catches; it is also a sign of a much desired hard-working man). A certain worthless fisherman who tricked Mōlī's father by rubbing fish guts (which were thrown out by others) on himself took her hand in marriage and did no work afterwards. Driven to desperation, Mōlī decorated herself with a beautiful lei of ginger ('' Zingiber zerumbet''), fern and ''maile'' and threw herself over the cliffs at Waiahukini. It is said each year around the time of her death, Mōlī returns and when the wind blows, moaning and wailing can be heard. The ''maile'' fragrance of her lei can also be smelled and if anyone goes there wearing a ''maile'' lei, they will be knocked to the ground., "The eerie man-calling cliff of Mōlīlele".

Keaoua Kekuaokalani

Keaoua Kekuaokalani, a cousin to Liholiho (Kamehameha II), objected to the overturn of the '' kapu'' system and with supporters, they gathered together with weapons at the battle of Kuamoo in attempt to restore the ''kapu'' taken away. Hawaiians from the area where the battle took place hold that the fragrance of ''maile'' worn by the Kekuaokalani's warriors into battle can still be smelled.

References

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External links

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q4207871, from2=Q4738808

stellata
Endemic flora of Hawaii