SEARCH AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE HAWAIIAN ‘NIU HIWA’ WITHIN HAWAI‘I’S COCONUT DIVERSITY
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2024
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Abstract
The coconut tree (Cocos nucifera L.), known as niu throughout the Pacific and some parts of Asia, is the sole species of the genus Cocos belonging to the family Arecaceae and subfamily Arecoideae. The subfamily includes 27 genera and 600 species that are diploid with 32 chromosomes (2n=2x=32). Thriving for perhaps 80 million years, the coconut developed the means to scatter across vast areas of the ocean where, before human dispersal of coconuts, their original distribution was the Central Indo-Pacific and regions of Maritime Southeast Asia and Melanesia. The coconut has been an integral part of tropical living for many millennia, connecting every part of this tree with meaningful functions through in-depth traditional knowledge. Evidence of the selection and domestication of coconuts is at least 5,400 years old where those Indigenous cultures have continued not only passing down millennia of legends and cultural practices that define who we are within our place in the Tropics but also maintaining the associated coconut knowledge and practices with close ties to human existence as “the tree of life.” Due to the depth of time and widespread spatial nature of the coconut tree, it is notable that a high number of coconut varieties were developed that serve a range of functions that occupy various needs. Although Hawai‘i provides evidence of a rich Indigenous coconut culture it lacks a practice of holistic conservation of these invaluable coconut genetic resources. It’s clear that without any record-keeping or strategic coconut conservation practices to keep populations alive, extinction could easily go unnoticed, and niu varieties will thus succumb to genetic erosion. Therefore, this thesis attempts to bridge this gap in coconut research and associated literature in Hawai‘i to recognize Hawaiian coconut diversity and the revitalization of coconut as a resource of cultural, nutritional and ecological importance. The holistic practice of recognizing niu diversity is accomplished by introducing a simplified coconut tree tracking system to collect a set of vital ethnobotanical and morphological information on any given coconut tree. Specifically, the understanding and recognition of a historically respected variety of coconut Niu Hiwa is used to exemplify and deepen a common comprehension of Hawaiian niu diversity. This research process has utilized a morphological tracking system along with expert tree observation and an ethnobotanical data gathering system as well as oral interviews with various knowable cultural partitioners in addition to reviewing written ethnobotanical material related to Niu Hiwa.
As a result, coconut tree data was collected on a diverse population of 260 trees in 5 different Hawaiian Islands. The study expanded our understanding of Niu Hiwa and revealed the specific characteristics of Niu Hiwa described in historical texts that had direct correlations with current Niu Hiwa trees identified by research participants. In addition, the study acknowledged the vast existence of a genetically diverse coconut gene pool in Hawai‘i today as well as some of the unique characteristics of ancient Hawaiian uluniu (coconut groves). In addition, the study has developed a morphological tracking system aligned with culturally embedded coconut practices that bring forward the current understanding of scientific classifications of coconut genetic diversity. This study thus created a coconut tree data management system and educational material that can be used to select quality coconut planting material. This process enhances understanding of coconut genetic diversity in Hawai‘i by using only the traits that a trained farmer would identify as important for differentiating coconut diversity.
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Plant sciences, Indigenous studies, Agriculture education, coconut, crop, Hawaiian, Indigenous, niu, varieties
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93 pages
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