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. There are also over 300 types of taro. The Hawaiians were smart because they grew the right taro for the right environment. Two very important ideas came from the cultivation of kalo.

The 'Ohana

The Hawaiian word for family is 'ohana. The word ohana comes from the most important plant kalo (taro). Taro was important to the Hawaiians. They believed that kalo was the first thing born to Mother Earth and Father Sky and that they are the decendents of this plant. The name for the plant is makua or parent, the offshoots are called 'oha, together they are called the 'ohana or family. This was a way an unique way to explain the idea of a family.

The Water of Kane

The great spirit Kane was the spirit of wai, fresh water. The Hawaiians believed that all fresh water was sacred. No one was allowed to tamper with wai. Like sunlight, no one owed this water, not even the king or the most powerful person on land. If they had to use fresh water it depended on the reason for its use.

Wai (fresh water) was so valuable that the word for wealth is waiwai. They understood the importance of water. They took great care not to pollute the water. Drinking water was taken above the dams for the loi (taro patches). Bathing was done only at the end or mouth of the stream.

The mahi`ai (farmer) was expected to take only his fair share of water. The sharing they learned gave the Hawaiians their word for law, kanawai, or "the fairness of sharing water." Today we take care of the water by not polluting it. We know that water is important because kalo grows in water, other plants do, & we use it to eat & drink . Now you know why water is very important to Mother Nature!