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Kalo is one of the most important plants in the Hawaiian culture… and many others throughout the pacific. The leaves are the shape of a heart and being with it fills your soul with love. Take the time to connect with this plant and your children. Here are a few ideas from the Farm to Keiki book.
MUSIC
Listen to these fun tunes!
The book reading starts at 6:45. She gives a tour of her sweet farm in the first few minutes which is fun to watch!
I love this video with the translations and short clips of the late Jerry Konanui – a wonderful man and kalo expert.
ART
The cut stem makes beautiful stamps that resemble the moon in full or crescent phases. Make kapa cloth (or any fabric) and decorate them with the kalo stem moon stamps.
LITERATURE AND CULTURE
Tell the mo’olelo (story) of the first Kalo plant and the first Hawaiian man
Tell Hawaiian mo’olelo (story) about the first kalo plant, Hāloanakalaukapalili, and his younger brother, Hāloa, the first Hawaiian man. This is a very important story that paints the importance of this plant in the Hawaiian culture, not just as a food staple, but as a symbol of the deep connection, a connection between all Hawaiians and a connection between all people and nature. Here is a version of the story that I enjoy. I would always share this mo’olelo with the children at Limahuli Gardens and they loved it!
COMMUNITY
Volunteer at a kalo lo’i
Have you ever been to a kalo lo’i? A kalo lo’i is a flooded garden where taro is grown. It is so beautiful and peaceful to look at and to get in the “mud” to help out! Find a kalo lo’i that accepts volunteers and bring the keiki along to help take care of the lo’i. I used to run field trips in the kalo lo’i at Limahuli Gardens and the keiki LOOOOVVEED getting inside the “mud”. Some activities may be to weed the au’wai (the water canal), to weed the patches, to harvest or to stomp leaves in the “mud” (like kuku’i) to add nutrients to the fallow patches. One activity I remember from a child is helping pick of the invasive snails and their bright pink eggs from the taro in Hanalei. That was my first introduction to kalo and I feel that I’ve loved it ever since!
