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The Changing Face of Ethnomedicine in Hiv a Oa, Marquesas Islands a Thesis Submitted To

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The Changing Face of Ethnomedicine in Hiv a Oa, Marquesas Islands a Thesis Submitted To UNIVERSITY OF HA"/A/I UBRARY NEW PLANTS, NEW DISEASES, NEW PRACTICES: THE CHANGING FACE OF ETHNOMEDICINE IN HIV A OA, MARQUESAS ISLANDS A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWArI IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BOTANICAL SCIENCE (BOTANY) DECEMBER 2005 By Liloa Makinney Dunn Thesis Committee: Will McClatchey (Chairperson) David Webb Mark Merlin We certify that we have read this thesis and that, in our opinion, it is satisfactory in scope and quality as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science in Botanical Science (Botany). " 1IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIfIlili I 10 002605464 ~_ UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII '" HAWN THESIS COMMITTEE Q111 .H3 no. 4015 II ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would first like to acknowledge and dedicate this work to the late mayor of Nuku Hiva, Monsieur Lucien" Taaroa" Kimitete, who was the first to open the door to the Marquesas for me. During my first field trip to the Marquesas, both Debora and Lucien Kimitete took me in and made me feel like this was my home. Both he and I planned on collaborating on a book that would document Marquesan Traditional medicine, but his untimely death put those plans on hold. I plan to continue with this work and his vision and would like to dedicate all my work in the Marquesas to his name. I would like to thank my thesis committee members for their guidance through this project, Dr. David Webb, who single handedly got me into the Botany program and who without I wouldn't have done what I have done today, Dr. Mark Merlin, for his insights and stories and particularly the Chairperson, Dr. Will McClatchey, who was excited about the work I was doing like it was his own and who helped me grow as an ethnobotanist. I would also like to thank the National Tropical Botanical Garden especially Dr. David Lorence, who hired me on as a Research Technician for the Marquesas Flora project which help facilitate my own research in the Marquesas through multiple trips to the islands and the collection and identification of voucher specimens. I am also indebted to Dr. Paul Cox who gave me inspiration and direction and who always had time for my questions. The same gratitude I would also like to extend to our research team on the floral project, Steve Perlman, Ken Wood and Jean­ Yves Meyer for putting up with an ethnobotanist. Others not to be forgotten for all their help include: Dr. Kim Bridges of the University of Hawai'i, and Dr. Diane Ragone of the National Tropical Botanical Garden. The Marquesas is often referred III by people in Tahiti as "Les lies Sauvage" or the Savage islands, which is so far from the truth of the true nature of these people. Fenna 'Enata or Henna 'Enana, translated roughly as the Land of Men, is how they like to be referred as, not savages. I have met so many people on these islands and all of them were gracious enough to welcome me into their homes, families, and their reality. I would like to acknowledge all of them, island by island. On Nuku Hiva, Debora and the Kimitete Family, Teiki Kimitete, Rose Corsier, Mme Mahi Tamari'i, Mama Nini, and Fiu Job. On Ua Pou, Toti Teikiehuupoko and Pascal Erhel Haatuuku. On Fatu Hiva, Tia Ihopu. On Tahuata, Edwin and Fati Fi'i. On Hiva Oa, I would like to thank the following: Toto Rives, Upu Mataiki, Tahia and Lucien Mataiki, Teiki Richmond and all the workers at the Service Development Ruale, Andre and Antonina Tessier. Most importantly, I want to extend my aloha to the following people who willingly shared their knowledge about Marquesan medicine which is traditionally a family secret passed down through the generations: Mme Tahia Mataiki, Mme Tahia Medula, Mme Paea Tohetaatua, Mme Lamekeu, M. Henry Heita'a, M. Tanaoa, and Mme Rereao Mataiki. With their help, we have initiated the steps to preserve their knowledge for the future generations of Marquesan children. IV TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ....................................................................... .iii-iv LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................ viii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................... .ix PREFACE ........................................................................................x-xii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................... 1 a. Research Goals ...................................................................... 3-4 CHAPTER II. THE MARQUES AS ISLANDS ........................................................... 5 a. Setting ........................................................................................ 5-6 h. Biogeography & Floristic ............................................................. 6-7 c. Polynesian Plant Introductions to the Marquesas Islands .................... 8-10 d. The Polynesians ...................................................................................... 10-11 CHAPTER III. MARQUESAN ETHNOMEDICINE: PRE TO EARLY CONTACT PERIOD ........................................................ 12 a. Early Sources in Marquesan Ethnomedicine ................................ 12-15 h. Healers and the Concept ofTapu .......................................................... .16-18 c. The Tahuna ..................................................................... .18-21 d. Disease Causation .................................................................................. .22-23 e. Disease Categories.................................................................................. 23-40 f. Medicinal Plants ...................................................................................... 40-48 CHAPTER IV. MARQUESAN ETHNOMEDICINE: TRANSITIONAL PERIOD ............................................................................................ .49 a. Healers ............................................................................... .49 h. Causation ............................................................................. 50 c. Population Demographics & Diseases ................................................... 51-59 d. Medicinal Plants .................................................................................... 59-74 e. Conclusion ............................................................................................. 74-75 CHAPTER V. MARQUESAN ETHNOMEDICINE OF HIV A OA: TODAy ....... 76 a. Introduction ................................................................................................. 76 h. Materials & Methods ............................................................................. 77-78 1. Identification of Informants ....................................................... 78-79 2. Informed Consent ...................................................... 79-80 v 3. Interview Fonnat. ...........................................................80 4. Infonnal and Unstructured Interviews ....................................... 80-81 5. Semi-Unstructured Interviews ................................................... 81-82 6. Follow-Up Participant Interviews ................................................... 82 7. Voucher Specimens ................................................................... 83-85 c. Results ......................................................................................................... 85 1. Infonnants .................................................................................. 85-90 2. Disease Causation ...................................................................... 90-91 3. Remedies and Disease Categories ........................................... 91-102 4. The Phannacopoeia ................................................ 102-122 d. Discussion ................................................................................................. 122 1. Healers and Healing ............................... , ................ 122-124 2. Disease and Causation ............................................ .124-128 3. The Phannacopoeia ................................................ .128-132 c. Conclusions ........................................................................................ 133-137 Appendix I. Gods of Ancient Marquesas .......................................................... 138-139 Appendix II. Plants Used in Marquesan Ethnomedicine and Their Apparent Distributional Status: Pre to Early Contact .................. 140-141 Appendix III. The Preparation ofMii in the Marquesas Islands: Then and Now......................................................... .142-144 Appendix IV. Plants Used in Marquesan Ethnomedicine and Their Apparent Distributional Status: Transitional ............................. .145-148 Appendix V. Infonned Consent Exemption Fonn from the University of Hawai·i ................................................................. .149-151 Appendix VI. Questions Used in the Semi-Structured Interviews with Infonnants T.M. and R.M ........................................................... 152-153 Appendix VII. Definition of Disease and Ailment Categories .......................... 154-164 Appendix VIII. Data Sets Showing Relationships between Healers and the Diseases They Treat... ......................................................... 165-166 Appendix IX. Marquesan Medicinal Plants ..................................................... .167-185 Appendix X. A List of Prohibited Items Observed During the Healing Process ..................................................................... 186-187
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