Ka Leo O Hawaii

Issue date: 10/4/07 Section: Mixed Plate

Media Credit: Diana Lorge Kava, the drink, is made from the kava plant, which is native to the Pacific. The plant is grown in such places as Hawai‘i, Fiji and Tonga.

Kava, also known as ‘awa in Hawaiian, is a drink made from the kava root, which is native to the Pacific. It is recognized here as a drink Hawaiians used in formal gatherings.

But today, kava, which was initially used ceremoniously by people of the Pacific, is now used by the general public.

"It first came back and was popularized in other parts of the world as a dietary supplement," said University of Hawai‘i kava expert H.C. Bittenbender.

"I think it has something to do with the Hawaiian Renaissance, but also, kava was being popularized by the dietary supplement industry. People were offering it up to the public as tablets people can take for relaxation and to reduce anxiety."

The use of kava has broadened, and some students have already formed ideas about the effects of drinking kava.

"I heard that when you drink it, it makes you all numb," said Horay Mendez, a third-year history major. "I know that it's a Hawaiian thing, it's a big part of the Hawaiian culture."

Bittenbender said that kava was used by many cultures in the Pacific.

"Kava is the ancient beverage crop of the Pacific. It originated in ... Vanuatu." Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean.

Bittenbender said that while kava was a formal part of gatherings, it was also the original "pau hana drink of Hawai‘i." He explained that before 1775, people of all groups would have kava at the end of the working period and before the evening meal.

Steven George, a UH Mānoa alumnus, started his own beverage business, using kava as one of his ingredients. "Naturally, being in Hawai‘i, I heard about it," he said. "Kava is pretty prevalent here. Being exposed to it culturally at UH, we decided to use the ingredients. Our drink helps relieve stress and anxiety. We found that a lot of artists and musicians like it because it relaxes you but also allows you to stay focused."

George and Bittenbender will both be giving out samples of kava to the general public this Saturday at the 2007 Kava Festival on campus.

Bittenbender said that the kava is a little "bitter-tasting" but feels that people will enjoy the experience because, unlike alcohol, there are no extreme side effects.

"It's opposite of alcohol in many ways. Alcohol does relax you, but sometimes people keep drinking it and they become boisterous or angry. ... With kava, people become relaxed and optimistic; they don't get loud or into fights," Bittenbender said.

The Kava Festival is a two-day event.

• Saturday will feature the cultural side of kava from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in front of the Art Building and Bilger Hall.


• On Sunday, there is a kava science symposium at St. John Laboratory on the ground floor from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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