Kalo
Not too long ago, over 200 acres of upper Wai‘anae Valley, known as Wai‘anae Kai, was under cultivation of taro. In the foothills of Mount Ka‘ala, are many acres of overgrown lo‘i terraces, evidencing an extensive taro production area, as well as, cultivation of banana, ti and other food and medicinal plants of the Po‘e Hawai‘i (Indigenous People of Hawai‘i).
In addition to the lo‘i terraces, there is evidence of stone quarries which produced adzes and other stone tools, implements for making kapa, carving tools, ulu maika, poi pounders, fish hooks, net weights, etc. All of this points to the existence of a large and self-sufficient village.
Although taro is not extensively grown in the Wai‘anae Coast Community, there are still families, like the Poe Family, who still retain their traditional water rights, who are planting taro for their family's table."
Reference Cited
Burgess, P., and E. Enos. 1999. From Then To Now, A Manual For Doing Things Hawaiian Style. Members of the Opelu Project Ohana, Kaala Farm. Waianae, HI.
