The state herald., 1908-06-05

hawaii mas nearly a Thousand miles
of coast line, as a consequence the
native Hawaiians are skillful and dar.
ing fishermen and sailors. as well as
splendid swimmers. The Hawaiians.
like the Japanese, are fond of almost
all the products OF the sea, and. like
them, prize the seaweed very highly
for food. Ancient Huwaiians probably
seldom ate a meal without some kind
of lImu ork sea weed. and even to-day
no Hawaiian feast is considered quito
complete without several varieties
served as relish with meats or poi,
Many tons Of these seaweeds are
gathered and eaten by the Hawailans
annually, besides large quantities are
imported from the orient and San
Francisco for the consumption OF both
the Japanese and Chinese. The sea.
weed sold In Honolulu alone mounts
annually to thousands OF dollars.
Before the coming of the white man
20 these Islands the diet OF the poorer
Hnwailans was largely poi. fish and
limu Even pol was scarce in times
Of war or famine and then the poorer
~,ishermen contented themselves with
only fish and llmu Sometimes for
weeks no other vegetable food could
be obtained but limu. which can be
gathered all the year. except during
very severe storms. Sweet potatoes.
taro and bananas could only be grown
In the good soil where there was
plenty OF rain or sufficient water for
Of 81 al
lagos had no fertile land near them. so
these people were compelled TO 20 10
the mountain valleys 20 secure all
their food except what they fished
from the sea. until the death Of
Kamehnmeha the Great QSi9l won.
en- suffered the death penalty II they
ate bananas. cOcoanuts, turtles. pork.
or certain fsh, so that their dict was
even more limited than that OF the
men They must have suffered great.
ly during times OF famine and war.
whom their only food came from the
sea. Before the coming OF the mis-
slonarios there were no fruits except
bananas, cocoanuts, and the mountain
apple. and none Of these We're ever
abundant except the mountain apple
or ohia, which Is plentiful only during
July and August In the mountain val
Toys wherever there Is a heavy rain.
fall
There are over 20 distinct species Of
nlgao or limu used for food by the
Ilawalians OF these 20 species not
more than 90 are In general use The
other 30 or 30 are used only by tcw
people In certain small areas whore
thoy are found In limited quantities
There are perhaps a dozen or moro
common species OF algao. mostly ma,
rino. that are termed By tho iinwaiiana
simply lmu. or with some descriptive
appcllatlon. llho limu make. meaning
poisonous limu Each edible limu
has ltB own special appellntlon be-
sides the FonoHc name limu with
which Il II combined oithor nH de,
gcriptiyo adjective or aH a sunk
Most of the iimu ~ gathered By ma,
tive women and children. except that
which grows IN the deeper or rouFhor
water, far out on the coral reefs. or
ON eapnsod rocks. where expert swim.
ming and Wnir Hii'uHh AfN required
ana also whore a boat ID usually
needed. In such places at least two
pooplo are required, aud often o party
of three or more men and women go
torcthor Tho women usually gather
tho Iimu while the men are fishing
and caring for the boat aud nets
Tho llmu rathorora 20 out at low
tide with tin palla old sacks. AMI
piaear Of aharpencd iron or an old
knife. and scrapo the Heawocd ffom
,bs coral or rocks The ssaweed is
freed from sand and pebbles and each
tind placed In separate receptacle.
n possible
Immediately aitef gathering tho
limit u iH very carefully washed.
either IN salt or fresh water 10 IT,.
move all sand, mud or cllnslng mol.
iuaka and cruslaccana. The Hawaiian
women are most particular about this