KAPA‘A — Yes, you can have your taro and eat it too. Just attend Thursday’s Amazing Taro Feast and Adopt-a-Variety Celebration to taste one, or dozens, of the most important food crop of old Hawai‘i — and then take home
KAPA‘A — Yes, you can have your taro and eat it too. Just attend Thursday’s Amazing Taro Feast and Adopt-a-Variety Celebration to taste one, or dozens, of the most important food crop of old Hawai‘i — and then take home some cuttings to start your own farm.
Regenerations Botanical Garden, in a partnership with Children of the Land Center for Polynesian Culture and Makaweli Poi Mill, will be offering a unique opportunity to taste 40 organically grown varieties of taro and receive planting material of this sacred Hawaiian food crop.
After eight months growing at the farm at Kaua‘i Community College, 43 varieties of taro were harvested last weekend. Many of these are rare traditional Hawaiian varieties that are prized for their beauty and superior eating quality, according to Paul Massey, director at Regenerations Botanical Garden.
He said all 43 varieties harvested will be available to take home as huli — cuttings used for propagating taro — but “only” 40 will be available for tasting.
One of the varieties had a low yield, which was not enough to offer it at the event, and the other two varieties were already cooked and eaten.
“Boy, they were good. We couldn’t wait,” said Massey, laughing.
Lately, there has been a renewed interest in traditional taro varieties, said Massey, adding that many of the rarest varieties have already been shared with farmers and gardeners from all over Kaua‘i.
“We are making an ever stronger effort to have people from all over the island grow part of it,” Massey said.
Sharing these varieties with taro farmers is one of the “most exciting things” because these men and women really know how to grow these crops, he said.
The event will be held Thursday, from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Children at the Land in Waipouli, near Safeway. The event is free, but a $10 donation is suggested.
Children of the Land and Regenerations Botanical Gardens are nonprofit organizations.
Massey said that fostering cooperative plant conservation is the central mission of Regenerations, which operates the Kaua‘i Community Seed Bank and produces the twice yearly seed and plant exchange.
