On  Saturday, August 7, 2010 from 8:30 am – 3 pm  Waimea Valley presents the 2010 Kalo Workshop on the second floor of the Proud Peacock. This workshop brings together kalo experts, local farmers and community members  to share knowledge and learn  about the traditional uses of kalo.  The workshop is FREE and open to all interested individuals and groups.

The Kalo Workshop is a joint venture  of the Botanical and Cultural Programs Groups of Waimea Valley. This interactive workshop will have special guest speakers and break-out sessions that will aid in identifying different varieties of kalo found throughout the state of Hawai‘i, and will feature displays by kalo farmers in addition to kalo pounding demonstrations and kalo tasting.

PRESENTERS:

Jerry Konanui is a native Hawaiian Mahi‘ai who cultivates many varieties of Hawaiian food crops.  As a resource expert, Konanui is called upon to  lead  hands on workshops on identification of Hawaiian food plants– their varieties, propagation, cultivation, harvesting, processing and uses throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

Kawehi Ryder is a DOE teacher and proprietor  of Kuleana Gardens. Kawehi teaches cultural strategies, develops gardens at various schools and for community at-risk youth  organizations.   Ryder has done extensive work in the cultivation of dry land kalo and la‘au plants and has worked with Kupuna Luther Makekau, Fred Olepau and Charlie Kawashima.  He has also worked with William Kaneoka on commercial wet-land kalo farming in Waipio Valley and on Moloka‘i marshland with Mr. Harry (Cowboy) Otsuka.  Most recently Kawehi has been working on the preparation and cultivation of a method of kalo farming called pakukui, planting within a kukui forest, utilizing old lo‘i sites.

Penny Levin is a restoration ecologist, taro farmer, and long time student of Hawaiian culture from Wailuku, Maui.  Ms. Levin has worked in wet and dry taro systems throughout the State of Hawai‘i for over  20 years.  Like  kalo expert Jerry Konanui, she shares a passion for reviving the knowledge of the old Hawaiian kalo varieties, the mo‘olelo, cultural traditions and practices surrounding kalo, and for returning them to the lo‘i and the table.  As a member of the Taro Security and Purity Task Force, Levin represents botanical gardens and living collections that are working to preserve these unique cultivars.

Tentative Workshop Agenda

8:30 am     Check-in/Registration
9:00 am     Protocol, Introductions, Overview
9:30 am     Traditional planting with Kawehi Ryder
10:45 am   Break -out sessions
11:45 am   Lunch, Pounding demonstrations
1:00 pm     Identification with Jerry Konanui & Penny Levin
3:30 pm     Closing

Light refreshments will be available at registration.  You can bring lunch or place an order at the Waimea Valley Grill.  To RSVP for or for more information  regarding the 2010 Kalo Workshop,  please  contact Jennifer Yagodich at (808) 638-5859 or jyagodich@waimeavalley.net.

Waimea Valley is located at 59-864 Kamehameha Highway, (across from Waimea Bay). Waimea Valley is a living pu‘uhonua, a place of peace and safety, for Hawai‘i and the world and one of O‘ahu’s last partially intact ahupua‘a. Waimea is significant in the history of Hawai‘i and a repository for Hawaiian spirituality and traditions. The 1, 800-acre valley offers an authentic cultural window into the lifestyle and customs of the Hawaiian people through daily programs and activities.  For more information visit www.waimeavalley.net or call (808) 638-7766.