Volunteering on A Loʻi (Taro Patch): Hawai’i

Living in Hawai’i is one of the greatest blessings to ever have. Take in consideration the hurdles to get a life set up here and managing the cost of living on an average salary, one could say living here isnʻt the easiest. But once that life is set up here, there are endless activities to enjoy, from diving the blue sea to hiking these beautiful mountains.

But there is a whole different side to Hawai’i that the average outsider doesn’t take the chance to explore. Hawaiʻi way be a state of Hawai’i, but it is still in fact very culturally connected to itʻs roots as a Polynesian archipelago. While the course of 100 years has seen Hawaiian culture be silenced and commercialized, in recent decades itʻs all been stronger than ever.

What does this even have to do with a Taro patch?

Well, let me explain..

This is Kalo (TARO)

What is the cultural significance of Taro?

Having traveled across the Pacific islands, I’ve seen taro as a staple in island cuisine & Hawai’i is no different. Taro is not only a staple food in Hawai’i but symbolically it stands for Ohana (family) & unity. (Also with some additional research there is a whole mythological story behind it. Read about it here)

Cultivating taro is not done using machines, but traditionally done by hand as it were done historically, passed down by elders onto new generations on these islands. From root to pounding poi, the process from field to table is all done traditionally and I LOVE IT!!

(Taro corm pulled from the ground to be cleaned off)

Connection to the ʻAina

In the years that Iʻve lived here, I longed to experience that other side to Hawai’i that the majority of outsiders donʻt really see. Be it through hula, visiting. heiauʻs, to learning ʻOlelo Hawai’i (Hawaiian).

Malama ʻaina (taking care of the land) on a loʻi is one of the greatest ways to connect with Hawai’i intimately.

Benefits of doing this?

Apart from the personal experience and connection to the ʻaina, volunteering on a loʻi is one of if not THE GREATEST ways to help non profit organizations, farmers, or simply locals trying to maintain their taro crops. As with anything where group effort is a blessings that is true for any loʻi. It’s a lot of work for few people, so 20 or so volunteers are guaranteed to get the core essentials done.

Ending Thoughts

In the near four years of living in Hawai’i, doing this very thing shot up to the top of my list of cultural experiences I wanted to have here in Hawai’i. Alongside attempting to learn ʻOlelo Hawai’i, dancing hula, and listening to native Hawaiian testimonies of struggles on TikTok, volunteering on a loʻi is one of the greatest ways to understand Hawaiian culture firsthand!

Check out this 40 second Tiktok summarizing my first loʻi experience!