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Hawaii is growing more popular as a destination for TV and film production. And now the show that put it on the map is back. The new Hawaii Five-0 is one of the shows ...
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Related Pieces
Piece Description
Kava continues to be a popular herbal supplement these days. But instead of consuming the herb in pills and capsules, more people are now drinking kava. The plant was first used in ancient Polynesia, where it was valued for its natural calming effects. Kava was once banned in Hawaii, but is now making a comeback in medicine, popular culture, and as a new crop.
This piece takes you to Hawaii's first kava bar, Hale Noa, which opened in 1999. Many residents and tourists flocked to it for years. While that kava bar has since closed its doors, it paved the way for several other cafes now serving the drink. Kava is now also available at local juice bars, health food stores and restaurants. Today, Hawaiian awa is being used again in contemporary Hawaiian ceremonies and it's celebrated as an expression of Pacifci Island culture.
The short version is 5:57 minutes.
The long version is 7:48 minutes. (This piece also mentions some of the studies being done on kava.)
The longer version is 8:06 minutes. (In addition to the studies, this piece includes a few more seconds of Hawaiian music at the end of the piece that you can fade out in case you may need it to fill time.)
Broadcast History
Originally broadcast on Living on Earth on December 14, 2001.
Updated for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in 2009.
Transcript
Hawaiian Awa (Kava) - Two Scripts
By Heidi Chang
SHORT VERSION:
HOST INTRO: Kava continues to be a popular herbal supplement these days. But instead of consuming the herb in pills and capsules, more and more people are now drinking kava. The plant was first used in ancient Polynesia, where it was valued for its natural calming effects. In Hawaii, kava is more commonly known as awa (ah-va). While it was once banned in Hawaii, these days it’s making a comeback in medicine, popular culture, and as a new crop. Heidi Chang reports from Honolulu.
CHANG: For 3,000 years, kava has played an important role in South Pacific island culture. Chiefs consumed it as a ceremonial drink, and it was used in social gatherings. Kava was one of the original plants that Polynesian settlers brought to Hawaii over 1,000 years ago. In Hawaii, it is known as awa.
MALY: It was the food, the offering to th...
Read the full transcript
Intro and Outro
INTRO:Kava continues to be a popular herbal supplement these days. But instead of consuming the herb in pills and capsules, more people are now drinking kava. The plant was first used in ancient Polynesia, where it was valued for its natural calming effects. In Hawaii, kava is more commonly known as awa (ah-va). While it was once banned in Hawaii, Heidi Chang reports, awa is now making a comeback in medicine, popular culture, and as a new crop.
OUTRO:Music fades out at the end.
