Aloha Kakou,

I would like to share with you a article that I have written for my Hawaiian Language Classes in Las Vegas. I hope that all of you enjoy this article about Taro or Kalo as Hawaiians call it. I have also added additional information at the bottom of my article. Please do not reproduce without my permission. Mahalo nui loa *thank you very much*.

Mahalo  *~Hawyngoddess~*

 I maika'i ke kalo i ka 'oha.
The goodness of a taro is judged by the young plant it produces.
From 'Olelo No'eau by Mary Kawena Pukui.<o:p></o:p>

Kalo (taro) is a staple for the Hawaiian people and our culture. It’s roots are firmly rooted into the ground, ÿonipaÿa (steadfast, immovable), establishing our heritage. Which allows us to perpetuate our culture by remembering our kupuna (ancestors). Na pua, na lei na mamo, our generations past, present, future. In perpetuating our culture we acknowledge our pride in our heritage. <o:p></o:p>

 I would like to share with all of you the importance of kalo in our heritage and culture. Also the significance kalo has in relation to our Papa ÿOlelo Hawaiÿi. <o:p></o:p>

     Kalo is the staff of life for Kanaka Maoli, the Hawaiian people. Kalo plays a important part in Hawaiian genealogy and was our main crop and provided susetanance to our people. Kalo is also very important in our concept of ÿohana. The word ÿohana originates from the word ÿoha, which is the corm of the kalo plant. Kanaka Maoli beleive that the ÿoha or, kalo corm, is the root of origin or the foundation. The Hawaiians attached the suffix -na to 'oha (kalo shoot) to build the word ohana. Ohana are the off-shoots, budding and branching from the parent stock. The Hawaiian relies and thrives on the existence of ohana or family. The foundation for ÿohana is our kupuna (ancestors) and the knowledge, wisdom and love that they carry within. The ha (stalks) and luÿau (leaves) of the kalo plant symbolizes the makua (parents). Who carry on the knowledge, wisdom and love of the kupuna. The offshoots or keiki (child) of the kalo standing beside their parent grow in the same loÿi. Which represent for us our own keiki, our present generation. The kalo is grown in a loÿi ( a irrigated terrace). The loÿi represents a place of learning, of enlightenment, a place to pass on the knowledge, wisdom and love. A place where we share our manaÿo with one another, share our experiences, share our aloha with our ÿohana. When kalo is harvested and made into poi this also brings about a revelation. Poi made from kalo is God given as is our ÿohana. When poi is made in the ÿumeke (calabash) and served, the poi represents the Hawaiian people. Once this ÿumeke is placed upon the pakaukau (table) and uncovered it is said that all pilikia stops and we all bond in lokahi (harmony). This is a celebration of life that brings all people together and supports a relationship of ÿohana and appreciation of our kupuna.

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        For Kanaka Maoli ÿohana represents all, we are all related and are one. We are all the children of the Lord (Spirit/Goddess/according to your beliefs), of Ke Akua. The 'ohana included parents, grandparents, children, ties of blood and non-related persons. ÿOhana encompasses all persons that are within your life. All members of ÿohana practiced Aloha. Aloha does not just mean hello, goodbye or love, it means so much more. <o:p></o:p>

• Akahai, meaning kindness to be expressed with tenderness; <o:p></o:p>
• Lokahi, meaning unity, to be expressed with harmony; <o:p></o:p>
• ‘Oluÿolu, meaning agreeable, to be expressed with pleasantness; <o:p></o:p>
• Haÿahaÿa, meaning humility, to be expressed with modesty; <o:p></o:p>
• Ahonui, meaning patience, to be expressed with perseverance<o:p></o:p>

Our ÿohana also included the ÿaina, one of the most important aspect of Hawaiian culture is our belief in aloha ÿaina. Which literally means to love the land. For in loving the ÿaina we provide for ourselves, our ÿohana, all the creatures of the ÿaina and replenish for the future generations. The connection between taro and Hawaiian culture is poetically expressed in the concept of `ohana, the family system, which like kalo sprouts forth from the single root. Although the kalo is harvested when the time is ripe, the plant itself is reborn again and yet again, as cuttings from the taro root are broken off and replanted for the next season. Life cannot die as long as the living water of the soul continue to nourish it. <o:p></o:p>

      Kalo had many other uses also and used in a variety ways in daily life. It was a important source of medicine for the Kanaka Maoli. Poi was used to settle a upset stomach, it was also diluted and mixed with pia (arrowroot starch) and taken for diarrhea. It was also used topically for some infections, rashes or sores. Mixed with ripe noni fruit it was used to treat boils. Diluted poi was also used as a means to glue pieces of kapa together. The juice from the ha stem or stalk of the kalo produced a red dye used to dye lauhala and  kapa cloth. Also the mud from the loÿi was used as black dye also in cloth making. On a interesting note many kahuna collected the rain that settled within the luÿau (leaves) of the kalo. This wai was called Kalo apuwai, and was considered sacred and valuable due to the fact that it never touched the ground. It was pure wai straight from the heavens sent from Ke Akua. Therefore this wai had mana and was used for blessings and other rituals.<o:p></o:p>

The following is a legend passed down through our kupuna. According to the Kumulipo, the creation chant, kalo grew from the firstborn son of Wakea (sky father) and Papa (earth mother), through Wakea’s relationship with his and Papa’s daughter, Hoÿohokulani. Haloa~naka, as the baby was named was born prematurely and stillborn. This babe was buried in the east corner of the hale. Out of this burial came the first kalo plant, also called Haloa, which means everlasting breath. Later when another son was born he was named after his elder brother. So being the younger child became the ancestor of the Hawaiian people. Thus his elder brother, kalo, was the senior branch of the family tree and the younger brother is the originator of the Hawaiian people. In Hawaiian legend and myth this is considered important as the sustenance came before the people. Thus Kanaka Maoli considered kalo to be a sacred plant as it is considered our elder brother. <o:p></o:p>

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Taro is often fed to babies as their first whole and natural healthy food, as well as to the elderly, for its ease of digestion and high vitamin content. Some people call poi the "soul food" of Hawai`i. Poi is eaten fresh or allowed to ferment for a few days, often for longer, creating a sour taste considered pleasant, acid, but not alcoholic. In the old days, a person might consume up to five pounds of poi per day. Several kinds of kalo had such special flavor and color that they were reserved only for the chiefs. It is said that Soviet astronauts ate dehydrated taro in space, adding water to the packets...instant poi!

DANGER: Before kalo can be eaten, all parts of the plant must be cooked, in order to break down the needle-like calcium oxalate crystals present in the leaves, stem and corm. These could be extremely irritating to the throat and mouth lining, causing an acrid burning and stinging sensation. (Miller, C.D.1929. Food Values of Breadfruit, Taro Leaves, Coconut and Sugar cane.)

 

Scientific Research: The young leaves are rich in vitamin C and the roots are rich in a starch composed of amylase (28%) and amylopectin (72%). The taro contains thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin, oxalic acid, calcium oxalate and a sapotoxin. The tubers contain aminoacids and high molecular weight proteins which inhibit human salivary and pancreatic and the porcine pancreatic amylases. The corms contain the anthocyanins pelargonidin 3-glucoside, cyaniding 3-rhamnoside, and cyaniding 3-glucoside. Hydroxycinnamoyl amides have been obtained from the inflorescences and two new dihydroxysterols have been isolated from the tubers.
(Cambie,R.C.and Ash,J.1994.Fijian Medicinal Plants.)

 

 

 

Taxonomy: Colocasia esculenta (Araceae)

Alternative Botanical Name:
Colocasia antiquorum

Alternative Common Names:
Polynesian Names: kalo, poi, callaloo, cocoyam, dasheen, eddo, eddoe,eddy root, tara, tarro, tarrow, dalo
English Names: Taro, swamp taro, elephant's-ear

Classification:

Colocasia Schott.
Kingdom: Plantae-Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta-Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta-Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta-Flowering plants
Class: Liliopsida-Monocotyledons
Subclass: Arecidae
Order: Arales
Family: Araceae-Arum family
Genus: Colocasia Schott.-Colocasia
(National Plant Database.USDA.2003)