Practical Agriculture Workshops
Hāmākua Harvest
NOTES from May 13, 2018 by Jim Crum

When King David Kalākaua wanted to document his and the Hawaiian lineage so the Kumulipo chant was created to tell the creation story.
(Note that King Kalākaua’s crown has kalo on it) 


Huli
– spiral energy that is the beginning of life
– beginning of duality. Mauka and Makai are interrelated and interdependent 
Life forms
– coral first in the sea
– then worms first on land
– then whales are key to the next level of evolution. 
Kalo
– was created from the body log the first child
– ha is the stem, also breath
– leaves (lau)
– kanaka’s (man’s) relationship and kalo is a sibling. Therefore, symbiotic relationship 
– the core is family and genealogies are traced. 
– makua is the main plant. 
– can eat the whole plant

Kalo care
– fish emulsion and composite tea to fight blight
– kohina is spot between plant and root. Be careful with this spot. Baby it
– Kanu: plant the baby plant. Make sure it is watched regularly after it has been planted for about a month
– plant the ha facing east and west so leaves can follow the sun
– after a few month it gets big, but korm takes about 6 months or more.
– No babies (oha) off the sides when they are young to not divert energy. 
– 7-8 months, once babies are there, the makua shrivels to have the oha do well.
– once leaves begin to die off, then it is ready to harvest 

It is a year long process to have a community kalo garden

Compost and manure
– Fish emulations
– Shells 
– Kukui trees are good for mulch

Varieties
– any can be grown on dry land
– makua is better on dry land
– lehua is purple and most popular
– Piko variety is heart shape
– pikokea has a whiteish leaf

To harvest
– cut where split on the ha stops. Can do this any time
cut about 1/2” below this and once they flower, probably can’t replant. This is the huli. Let them retire in the forest. Also keeps this as a safety/seed stock. 
– let hui scab over in the shade and then plant again

Amakua – ancestors that manifest to the family – like a family totem – and will often take the form of an animal

Know
– What water do you come from?
– What water do you drink?
– Who is your mom, your grandma?
However what matters is not where you are from, but what are you bringing to the table for the greater good?

Called hui because is cycles thru and regrows. 

Ulu (breadfruit) is the staple for Samoans, and kalo (taro) is for Hawaiians. 

How to eat it:
– poi (special for chiefs, it’s own Imu and protocols)
– men did cooking in imu. Imu represents the womb
– don’t eat raw! 
– high calcium. Hypoallergenic. 
– cook it down well. 
– cube it up, boil it in a 1 1/2 to 2 hours
– skin it after it’s cooked. Skin. Rolls off. Carve out rotten spots
– poi ponders: made by hand as a family commitment 90 hours to make.

Poi Pounder: pohaku kuʻi ʻai is the male
Poi Board: papa kuʻi ʻai is the female 
– umeki : poi bowl. Family heirloom. For poi only. 
– ferments and gets sour. 
– don’t refrigerate. 
– mix in the mold
– all eat from the one bowl but use fingers, not spoons
– two fingers to eat poi. Scoop from the middle and flip hand to catch it. 
– when eating, you are showing respect for your ancestor and being fed spiritually
– peanut butter consistency

O’o for planting and harvesting. 

Posted on by jim.

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