Botanical Name: Piper methysticum. Other Common Names: Kava-kava, Kawa, ‘awa (Hawaii), ‘ava (Samoa), yaqona (Fiji), sakau (Pohnpei). Habitat: Historically kava has been grown in Hawaii, Federated States of Micronesia, Vanuatu, Fiji, the Samoas, and Tonga. It is a cash crop in Vanuatu and Fiji. The plant is a shrub that thrives in shaded, well-drained, loose soils. It grows naturally where rainfall is plentiful. The plant grows best between 20 and 35 degrees Celsius and between 70 and 100 percent humidity. Plant Description: Kava belongs to the pepper family that grows to a height of 3 meters. This hardy perennial sports