Events

Natural History

Nanahonua, Angel's Trumpet
(Brugmansia x candida)

Nanahonua, angel's trumpet, always attracts attention. It is a conspicuously dramatic small tree with fragrant, large, pendulous, trumpet-like flowers hanging all over it. The flowers may be white, pink, or peach-colored. Some people find the fragrance of the 10-inch long flowers delightful. However, their fragrance, which is strongest at night, can make some people feel ill, causing headache, nausea, dizziness and weakness. Each flower hangs down like a bell and has five thin segments, each coming to a twisted point. The calyx wrapping the end of the tube is a single lobe, split, and somewhat pointed.

The beauty of the plant makes it a popular ornamental. The tree averages about fifteen feet or less and has light-colored bark. It thrives in gardens at all elevations, but can especially be found in cooler upland areas. The tree has large, 16-inch long leaves that are gray-green, thick and velvety. The wood is very brittle.

Hawaii's angel's trumpet tree is a hybrid of two species of angel's trumpets that are native to the Andes. The first angel's trumpet tree in Hawaii came from Rio de Janeiro on the frigate "Blonde" in 1825. The Hawaiian name for the flowers, nanahonua, means "gazing earthward."

In Hawaii, people sometimes call angel's trumpets "belladonna." However, belladonna (Atropa belladonna) is a different plant that is not found in the Islands. The word "belladonna" means "beautiful lady" in Italian. It was given to the Atropa plant in the 14th century because eating some of the plant or rubbing it in the eyes caused women's pupils to dilate, making the eyes lustrous, and the pupils large and dark.

One thing is the same about belladonna and angel's trumpet: all parts of both plants are poisonous. In fact, the toxins in angel's trumpet are closely related to the ones in belladonna.

All parts of the angel's trumpet contain the alkaloids atropine, hyoscyamine and
scopolamine. The last is the principal active ingredient in angel's trumpets, which is used in anti-motion sickness ear patches. The alkaloids present in the plant can cause hallucinations if eaten or drunk as tea. (The hallucinations are usually terrifying and the other effects of the plant range from unpleasant to downright fatal. Overdoses of datura may cause seizures, paralysis, coma, respiratory failure and circulation collapse.)

Angel's trumpets are closely related to jimsonweed and other members of the Datura genus. American Indians, people practicing traditional Chinese medicine and modern pharmaceutical companies have long used these plants as medicine. However, it is wise to be careful when handling these plants. Wear gloves when trimming the plants; don't touch your eyes or your mouth with your hands. These flowers do not make good lei material since the poisons may be absorbed through the skin.

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Arts & Culture

Wailuku Courthouse

As the 19th century ended, Wailuku judges were hearing cases in a small, shabby courthouse on High Street. The facility was so limited that the grand jury was often forced to meet elsewhere – in a church basement, an old schoolhouse or the basement of the jail.

In 1901, a Maui News article announced that due to the rapid growth of the town and its eight surrounding sugar plantations, Wailuku would be designated as the County seat. Once the debate wound down, the Territorial legislature appropriated $25,000 for a new courthouse which was built at 2145 Main Street, Wailuku, to accommodate court purposes on the upper floor and tax and water works offices on the lower level.

In 1907, two years after Wailuku was officially the seat of government for the newly formed Maui County, the new courthouse was designed in the Beaux Arts Revival style, and built by contractor Angus P. McDonald for $23,312. It was furnished by Kahului Store for an additional $1,500. 

(The following year, in 1908, the old courthouse was moved across the street to become the Wailuku Town Hall. The building did not survive into modern times.)

The Wailuku Courthouse sports a clay tile hip roof added in the 1920’s to complement a new County Office Building, built a half-block to the west on High Street, in 1909.

By 1991, the dilapidated state-owned courthouse was scheduled to be gutted. The County intervened and ownership of the building was transferred to the County of Maui after a land exchange with the State of Hawaii. County land surrounding the Maui Community Correctional facility was traded for the Court House and for state land that became the firing range at Ukumehame.

The building was added to the State Register of Historical Places in 1985 as part of the "Wailuku Civic Center Historic District." The following year, the Historic District was added to the National Registry of Historical Places.

A County restoration and renovation project costing $1.8 million and completed in 1993 added modern conveniences (like a central air-conditioner and an elevator as well as upgrades to the phone, computer and electrical systems) without destroying the historic character of the structure. Accessibility features for people with disabilities were included in the renovation of the building.

The County hired Mason Architects, Inc. to preserve the historic building and renovate it for use.  MAI chose to restore the exterior of the building to its 1962 appearance so that a historically compatible addition made that year could be retained. Interior lobbies and the second-floor courtroom were restored as well. An important component of the renovation was the display in the lobby of the building as well as the period of martial law in Hawaii.

In 1994, MIA's work was recognized by the Historic Hawaii Foundation with a "Preservation Hawaii Award." (This award honors projects, organizations, publications or individuals active in preservation, rehabilitation, restoration or interpretation of the states archaeological, architectural and cultural sites. Their work also earned an Award of Merit from the Honolulu chapter of AIA as well as an award from the Maui Historical Society.

The old building, which was previously occupied by a number of judges including the Honorable George Fukuoka, Kase Higa and Arthur Ueoka, now serves as the office space for the County prosecutor.

Centennial and "birthday" celebrations were held for the Courthouse in November, 2007.

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Hawaiiana

 

 

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Braddah-Nics Lexicon

STANDARD:  It's important.
BRADDAH-NICS:  Stay criticals, man!

* * * * * *

STANDARD:  I have to take my sister to school
BRADDAH-NICS:  I gotta go take my sista school.

* * * * * *

STANDARD:  It's better to keep them informed.
BRADDAH-NICS:  Mo' bettah us go tell 'em.







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Local Grinds

Chopped Steak with Mushrooms

Ingredients:

• 2 Lb. Steak
• 1 Onion
• 1 Container of mushrooms
• 1/4 Cup Shoyu
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• Oil
  
  
  

Procedure:

Cut steak into 1/2 inch thick slices. Cut onion and mushrooms into slices. Season steak to taste with salt and pepper. Add oil into pan and let heat for a couple seconds and add in steak. Once steak is added for some more taste add some garlic powder. Let steak brown and then add in the onions and let cook for a couple minutes and add in mushrooms. Add some more salt, pepper, and garlic if needed. Then add 1/4 cup shoyu and cook for about 5 minutes and then its ready to serve.

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