Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
brother to man. Haloa was planted in the earth, and from his body came taro
(kalo),a plant that has long sustained the Hawaiian people and been a staple for
oceanic cultures around the world.
Kalois still considered a sacred food, full of tradition and spirituality for Native
Hawaiians. The North Shore's Hanalei is home to the largest taro-producing farm
in the state, where the purple, starchy potatolike plant is grown in pondfields
known asloʻi kalo(Hawaiian wet taro fields). After crossing the first of several one-
way bridges in Hanalei, you'll notice thekalogrowing to the left.
Kaloregained the spotlight in the '70s thanks to the 'Hawaiian Renaissance,' a
time during which some aspects of the Hawaiian culture enjoyed a modest, long-
overdue resurgence and reclaimed practice. Though dismissed by some outsiders
as little more than a glorified, garnet-colored potato,kalois rich in nutrients. It is
often boiled and pounded into poi, an earthy, starchy and somewhat sweet and
sticky pudding-like dish.
Families enjoy poi, defined as the 'staff of life' in the Hawaiian dictionary, a num-
ber of ways. Some prefer it fresh, while others prefer sour poi, or poiʻawa ʻawa(bit-
ter),possibly from the method in which poi used to be served - often it sat in a
bowl on the table for quite some time.
All traditional Hawaiian households show respect for taro: when the poi bowl sits
on the table, one is expected to refrain from arguing or speaking in anger. That's
because any bad energy isʻino(evil) - and can spoil the poi.
A tip for avoiding offence: because of the spiritual relevance and cultural history
ofkalo,it's quite disrespectful to dismiss it as bland. If you happen upon one of
many luaus on the island that includekalo-based poi in their smorgasbord, please
don't disparage it.
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Hanalei
POP 1001
There are precious few towns on this sweet earth with the majestic natural beauty and
barefoot soul of Hanalei. The bay is the thing, of course. And its half-dozen surf breaks
swell to well above triple overhead and are the stuff of legend. Partly because local surf
gods like the late Andy Irons and Laird Hamilton cut their teeth here. But even if you
aren't here for waves, the beach, with its wide sweep of cream colored sand and magnifi-
cent jade mountain views, will demand your loving attention. And when beach time is
done, stroll into the ubercute downtown, take a yoga class, snack on divine sushi or duck
into a dive bar blessed with local tunes and special sustenance. It's true that Hanalei has
