'Uhaloa

By Lyons Cabacungan

Commonly seen as a weed in most dry zones around Hawaii, ‘uhaloa has grayish leaves with yellow and red flower heads. It is an indigenous plant of Hawaii, which means it was not introduced but occurred here naturally. Bark of the roots, leaves, and stems/twigs are used for a variety of medicinal uses in Hawaii. ‘Uhaloa may sometimes be used to treat upper respiratory problems, asthma, sore throat, and arthritis. Combining ‘uhaloa with other medicinals was a common practice for Hawaiians of the past. One such compound was used to treat itchy skin and rashes.

'Uhaloa

Lyons Cabacungan

Here in Kaupō, ‘uhaloa has a very different appearance compared to the more common variety found elsewhere. It is a hidden medicine cabinet that is in plain sight. If you do decide to utilize this wonderful plant to treat an ailment, please do your research first. Dosages, preparations, compounds/additives, adverse effects, and so forth should always be considered when doing any type of traditional medicine practice.

Lyons Cabacungan is the current Po'o of 'Aha Moku o Kaupō. His connection to Kaupō reaches farther than recorded history. Ancestors from both of his parents originate from Kaupō. The family names that he tends to identify his Kaupō roots with are Charles and Helen Smith. Their eldest son, Charles Jr., is his great-grandfather. Lyons was born and raised on Maui. As a child, he resided in Makawao, and spent most weekends in Kumunui, Kaupō, tending to family land. He is the third of the four sons of Robert and Sonia Cabacungan. They have instilled many values in him that give him strength to be successful in life.

He is a 2002 graduate of Lāhainaluna High School. While he was at Lāhainaluna, the Boarding program further developed his love for agriculture; learning hydroponics, landscaping, orchard care, etc. As a senior, he was the President of Future Farmers of America (FAA), Lahainaluna Chapter.

Upon graduating high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army; Aviation Branch. He served nearly 10 years as an Aviation Operations Specialist. Most of that time was spent in Operations, under Battle/Mission Planning, though he has done a few overseas deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism. The military added different values and skills to his life that still influence him in his day-to-day life.

After his discharge from the Service, he returned to Maui. He attended UH-MC and pursued a degree in Agriculture. While working on his degree in Ag, he also enrolled in many of the Hawaiian Studies courses that are offered (Hawaiian Politics, Modern Hawaiian Issues, etc.). Not only does he want to help his family, but all Hawaiians as well. Traditions, protocols, legends, history, and so forth all come into play in life as a Hawaiian farmer, and he tries hard to pass it on.

For the past 5 years, he has been the Program Manager and Instructor for the Agriculture and Natural Resource Department at UH-MC. Through the COVID-19 pandemic UH-MC and the Agriculture department have been going through some major changes that he feels will benefit our island community.

Lyons would like to thank everyone for their support of 'Aha Moku o Kaupō.