In Athol Fugard’s 1978 play,
A Lesson From Aloes, the aloe is used allegorically as a tool for trying to establish a sense of place in a country with so much racial conflict.
In isiXhosa,
Aloe ferox is named
Ikhala. It is beautiful, strong enough to survive harsh, dry conditions and has well-known medicinal properties. In the Eastern Cape, it features as a symbol on car number plates, and it also appears on the medal for the Order of Mendi – a national honour for bravery.
“The central image is sealed above by a green emerald which is surrounded on three sides by renditions of the bitter aloe, a hardy indigenous South African plant used in traditional medicine. The three bitter aloes represent resilience and survival and also serve as symbolic directional pointers, showing the way when rendering assistance to those in need during natural disasters,” says the government’s website.
Rum, Whiskey, Shochu, Vodka and More: O‘ahu Distillery Roundup
From Kunia to the Ko‘olau, Wahiawā to Hawai‘i Kai, the island has more spirits than you might think.
May 25, 2021
People inclined to imbibe the hard stuff are in luck: A growing number of O‘ahu distilleries are expanding their offerings. Rum, vodka, shochu and whiskey distilleries are fairly well established. While not distilleries, non-beer players have begun producing local sake and mead. And new distillers are coming online. Many offer tours and tastings, so check them out on your next drive around the island.
Shochu is a traditional Japanese beverage that starts with cooked rice and frequently adds in other ingredients. In the case of this North Shore distillery, the other ingredient is sweet potatoes all kinds of locally grown sweet potatoes. Shochu maker Ken Hirata’s small artisanal business sells hand-filled bottles at the distillery; check Hawaiian Shochu’s Facebook for updates and ema