Taro, Dasheen

Description:

Kalo plants were very significant in the Hawaiian culture and there were more than 300 varieties. The kalo plant, also known as taro or dasheen, is part of the Araceae family. Loʻi were irrigated wet patches dedicated to cultivating wetland kalo. The growing cycle of the kalo ranges between 8-18 months and the harvest time is between 5-10 months. The height of the plant depends on the variety, but most stalks have will have a height of a couple feet high. The color of the stem can be green, red, or black. The leaves are heart shaped and have veins called aʻa lau. A new leaf and stem can emerge by pushing out of the innermost stalk. Flowers, called pua, can emerge from the top of the stems. Lastly, new corms that grow from the main kalo plant and are called ʻoha.

Habitat:

Kalo plants can be found in moist, sunny areas all throughout Hawaiʻi. It is also found in many places around the world including India and Southeast Asia. This plant was found in Pueonani Street, Kapolei.

Notes:

The kalo plant was Polynesian introduced to Hawaiʻi. It was the staple for the Hawaiians and was thought of as the Hawaiians older sibling. Wakea, the "sky father" and Papa, the "earth mother," had a daughter called Hoʻohōkūkalani. Wakea and Hoʻohōkūkalani then conceived a premature baby that was buried and a kalo plant grew at that burial site. They conceived another baby that was the first Hawaiian and was named Hāloa. The Hawaiian people respected and were deeply rooted to the land/ʻāina.