92 



LIMU. 



A publication recently issued from the University of California 

 and written by William Setchell under the above title, deserves 

 attention. The writer is indebted to his informant on the sub- 

 ject of a short visit to the Hawaiian Islands in the summer of 

 1900, during^ which he collected his data on the shores in the 

 neighborhood of Honolulu and Hilo. 



The "Limu" of the Hawaiian Islands is a term applied to 

 edible seaweed, restricted chiefly to Algae and certain lichens. 

 The term is also extended by the natives to include a few Asci- 

 dians, Corals and other motionless animals. The names and uses 

 of the different varieties of limu are numerous, but it is difficult 

 to obtain them from the present generation. 



Limu is eaten by the native Hawaiians generally in its un- 

 cooked condition, and at low tide it is a common sight to see the 

 women gathering it wherever the coast is favorable to its growth. 

 In the Hawaii Almanac and Annual for 1886 the Rev. C. 'M. 

 Hyde, speaking of ferns, says: "To genuine Hawaiians a feast 

 is not a regular luau, as foreigners call such festivals, without the 

 presence of these dryads of the mountains, and as lovingly do they 

 rejoice also in bringing to the feasts those nymphs of the sea, the 

 limu (sea mosses), some of which, like the Upoa, have become to 

 the Hawaiian the synonym of the most delicious fragrance." 



The Hawaiians are very particular in their selection of limu 

 and especially esteem those obtained from certain localities. The 

 foreigner, as a rule, hesitates to attempt the new food,, but 

 when he overcomes his prejudice he is often rewarded with 

 flavors that repa}- his temerit}^ The paper in question, con- 

 cludes with a description of various kinds of limu, arranged in 

 alphabetical order. Whenever possible derivations are given 

 and notes on the particular use of the variety referred to. 



As with most Hawaiian lore, reliable information on the native 

 use and nonenclature of this comestible is to be obtained from the 

 older generation of natives who are rapidly passing away. A 

 familiarity with the Hawaiian language is requisite to a pro- 

 per elucidation of such subjects, as the information sought 

 is as a rule possessed only by those who have little under- 

 standing of English and who are generally reluctant to impart 

 it to strangers. 



