Wehewehe Wikiwiki Hawaiian language dictionaries

1. n., A sea bean (Mucuna gigantea 🌐), native from southeast Asia, east into Polynesia, a high-growing vine, bearing greenish flowers and large pods, each pod containing two to four round and flattened seeds, black-spotted or brown. In Hawaiʻi, the seeds, known as pēkaʻa, are found on the beaches, and are used medicinally for their strong purgative effect and are also strung for leis.

• References:
  • Neal 462.

2. n., Hand net hanging on an ellipsoidal wooden frame with one end pointed, used for ʻōhua and other inshore fish; to use this net or a skirt of a dress in this type of fishing; to strain, as through a strainer.

• References:
  • PCP taakeke .

Sea bean (Mucuna gigantea). A tall tree with black-spotted or brown seeds in pods, which were processed for use as a cathartic. The seeds are called pēkaʻa. (NEAL 462.)

Sea bean (Mucuna gigantea), a high climber containing flat seeds in large pods. In Hawaiʻi powdered seeds are used for their strong purgative effect. Seeds are also used in making leis. (NEAL 462.)

Sea bean (Mucuna gigantea), a vine found in the valley back of Hawaiʻi beaches, grown from floating seeds washed up by high surf. The seeds, covered by nearly hairless pods, are flat, brown with black lines, and edged with a long black line. (NEAL 462.) See Plants: Uses.