‘Ānapanapa is a shrub that in Hawai‘i grows somewhat like a vine, the long branches climbing up into nearby trees where these are available. The word ‘ānapa means to shine, glisten, or sparkle, a quality of the leaves of this plant—especially after a passing shower.

When this ‘Ahahui Mālama i ka Lokahi project started in the 1990s a few ‘ānapanapa plants were already growing in the vicinity of the piko, within a dense growth of koa haole, a non-native small tree that, at the time, dominated the vegetation. After clearing of the hillside, ‘ānapanapa started spreading on its own across the park. The plant is uncommon elsewhere on the island, but now abundant here. We take this fact as a sign that our efforts at Nā Pōhaku o Hauwahine are pono.

All parts of the plant, when crushed and mixed with water, produce a soapy solution that was used as such throughout Polynesia. The plant yields a substance the Hawaiians used to stun fish.

‘Ānapanapa is listed as an invasive species in Florida (called leatherleaf or Asian snakeroot). Considering all the invasive species from America suffered on the Hawaiian Islands and the numerous other reasons one might have to regard Florida in poor light, ‘ānapanapa is a fitting gift. E luana!