Library > Science & Technology > Life Science > Plants

Taro: Life of the Islands

2000
Our topic is about the taro plant, called kalo in Hawaiian. Kalo was the main staple of the Hawaiian people. We want to show how early Hawaiians grew the plant with an irrigation system that did not damage the environment. It is also good to show how they grew the plants and used every part of it so there is no waste. The early Hawaiians were in awe of nature and treated nature with reverence. They understood how important nature is for their own lively hood. The growth of taro showed how the early Hawaiians used and protected their environment. The lesson for all of us to learn is that we should never forget about our natural environment. We would like to share two very important ideas that came from the cultivation of kalo. First that the use of water as not being owned by any one person but should be shared and protected by all. Second, that the kalo represented the family.