Hana festival celebrates taro

Advertiser Staff

HANA, Maui — Taro, a food and cultural staple for Hawaiians since ancient times, will be celebrated at the 13th annual East Maui Taro Festival this weekend in Hana.

Event official Judy Kinser said that nearly every household and family in Hana is involved in the festival — as a vendor, performer or volunteer.

"There is a lot of kokua, helping and volunteering," she said. "... The entire community is in harmony and emphasizing their culture at the same time."

The free three-day event starts Friday with visits aboard the Makali'i and Hokule'a voyaging canoes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hana Bay. Hawaiian plate-lunch dinners will be available for purchase after 5 p.m., and a symposium on Hawaiian water rights and taro genetics will begin at

6 p.m. in Helene Hall. Educator Paulo Burns will present the Haloa story about the ancestor of the Hawaiian people, the first taro plant. Kamaui Aiona from Kahanu Gardens will give an overview of the master plan for the new garden layout.

Saturday at 9 a.m., the Ka'ahumanu Society will deliver the opening blessing at the Hana Ballpark. The society, of women of Hawaiian ancestry, honors Queen Ka'ahumanu, who was born in Hana. Hawaiian crafts, flowers, T-shirts and other goods will be sold throughout the day, and there will be taro-pounding and kapa demonstrations, along with entertainment until 5 p.m.

Food booths at the East Maui Taro Festival are required to feature at least one taro dish, such as poi, poi mochi or taro burgers, and taro plants; and greens will be for sale by local farmers.

Sunday's events will start with a taro pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 11 a.m. at the ballpark. An excursion to Kukulu Kumuhana for kapa cloth-making demonstrations will leave at 10 a.m. for the hale across from Hana High and Elementary School. At 11 a.m., visitors can join an excursion to Hale O Pi'ilani Heiau in the National Tropical Botanical Garden. A third excursion will leave at 1 p.m. for the Kapahu Living Farm taro lo'i on Haleakala National Park grounds in Kipahulu.

People can sign up for the excursions Saturday at the festival T-shirt booth or by calling Kinser at (808) 264-1553.

The festival is sponsored by Maui County, the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, Hana Ranch, Hotel Hana-Maui and the Hana Business Council.