226 Fish-Poisoning in the Hawatian Islands 
PLANTS USED IN HOLA FISHING. 
The plants used by Hawaiians in hola-fishing were auhuhu 
(Tephrosia piscatoria Pers. = T. purpurea Pers.) and akia (Wik- 
stroemia sp.), the former being the more highly prized. Indeed 
most of the be‘ter informed Hawaiians say that these were the only 
sources of fish poison. One reliable informant, however, added 
the bitter gourd ipu awaawa (Cucurbita maxima Duch.) to the list 
and explained that akia was not a very strong poison. Akia alone 
was sufficiently powerful to kill small fish, but to kill large ones the 
leaves or fruit pulp of the ipw awaawa were combined with it. 
Hillebrand® mentionel awa (Piper methysticum Forst.) as a fish 
poison, but no confirmation of such use is obtainable from natives 
today. They say that awa was used by fishermen, but ridicule the 
idea of wasting it on fish. It is possible that Hillebrand had in 
mind the traditional custom of “feeding” awa to sharks in the pro- 
cess of “creating” shark gods. Rock® adds the anapanapa or ku- 
kuku (Colubrina asiatica) to the list, with the statement that it 
“was often used for stupefying fish.” He was, however, unable to 
recall his authority but thought it was a man from Kauai. The 
writer has consulted old Hawaiians from Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii 
on the subject, and they deny that this shrub was used for narcot- 
izing fish. We may admit the possibility that the plant was used 
for such a purpose on the Island of Kauai. The introduced Plu- 
meria was mentioned by one Hawaiian as being used as a fish- 
poison, and there are probably many other plants suitable for the 
purpose. Quicklime is said to have been used in later times, occa- 
sionally, with auhuhu and akia. 
Auhuhu is a small shrub, 1 to 3% feet high, growing in the 
open on the rocky ground of the coastal region and of the valley 
slopes. Its best development is reached in the dry sections below 
the 300-foot level, and it has not been observed at a greater eleva- 
tion than 1000 feet above the sea. Its stock is perennial, foliating 
thickly, fruiting after heavy rains, and dying back in dry weather. 
* Hillebrand, W. F., Flora of the Hawaiian Islands, p. 384, Heidelberg, 
T888. 
“Rock, J. F°., Indigenous Trees of the Hawaiian Islands, p. 283, Hono- 
lulu, 1913. 
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