http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/2007/12/natural-foods-from-hawaii/ Adventures of a Girl with No Fixed Address Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:14:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/2007/12/natural-foods-from-hawaii/comment-page-1/#comment-116 Charlotte Elaine Thu, 15 May 2008 04:49:00 +0000 http://theprofessionalhobo.com/2007/12/natural-foods-from-hawaii/#comment-116 I'm afraid taro is NOT a fruit as you have stated in your "fruit to find list". It's more than just another plant in Hawaii. Kalo, the Hawaiian name for the plant, is a vegetable steeped in tradition, ritual and folklore. I found it interesting when Kaui had a taro, or kalo, shortage, there were signs on all the grocery store doors saying NO POI TODAY and people were very upset. The corm or bulb of the plant is what is used to make poi and the leaves are used as wrappings for rice and meat then steamed. The leaves can also be steamed with broth or water and eaten with just about anything. I learned long ago to not make disparaging remarks about the poi given to me, the work and soul that goes into making it makes poi a precious if not particulary flavorful gift. To make faces or remarks at the flavor is to dishonor the spirit of ohana (family) that the giver shares as an honor.<br/>Hope I don't sound like I'm lecturing, I'm passionate about preserving Hawaiian culture, it came so close to disappearing altogether that getting it "right" is important. I’m afraid taro is NOT a fruit as you have stated in your “fruit to find list”. It’s more than just another plant in Hawaii. Kalo, the Hawaiian name for the plant, is a vegetable steeped in tradition, ritual and folklore. I found it interesting when Kaui had a taro, or kalo, shortage, there were signs on all the grocery store doors saying NO POI TODAY and people were very upset. The corm or bulb of the plant is what is used to make poi and the leaves are used as wrappings for rice and meat then steamed. The leaves can also be steamed with broth or water and eaten with just about anything. I learned long ago to not make disparaging remarks about the poi given to me, the work and soul that goes into making it makes poi a precious if not particulary flavorful gift. To make faces or remarks at the flavor is to dishonor the spirit of ohana (family) that the giver shares as an honor.
Hope I don’t sound like I’m lecturing, I’m passionate about preserving Hawaiian culture, it came so close to disappearing altogether that getting it “right” is important.

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