'Ina

" He i'a laka nō lā ho'i ka 'ina "

The 'ina is easily gathered. A retort to a person who frequently

says, "if I had this" or "if I had that." A play on 'ina (sea egg) and inā (if).

('Ōlelo No'eau 608)

There are 3 different varieties of 'ina recognized by our kūpuna. 'Ina uli / 'ele'ele (Black), 'Ina kea / ke'oke'o (White or greenish), and 'Ina 'ula (Pink). They are a common urchin found on rocky shorelines and reef systems. They can bore into most substrate making them a principal agent of erosion.

Harvesting for 'ina were good on the moon phases Hilo (1st night of the new moon), Kūkolu (5th day of the lunar month), Kāne (the 27th day of the lunar month), Mauli (29th day of the lunar month), and Muku (the 30th day of the lunar month). Harvesting was not good on the moon phase Mōhalu (12th day of the lunar month).

'Ina can be handled but be very careful, they can puncture the skin. They do not have the fine, spiny spines like wana.