Today I planted five kalo (taro) around a cacao tree that I need to hide from the rose beetles. This one is Lihilihi Molina which was Queen Emma’s favorite kalo variety. Known for starting The Queen’s hospital in Honolulu she was also into farming and was an expert in growing kalo among many other accomplishments.
In the 1850s the queen described Lihilihi Molina in her journals as an old friend, implying that it’s a variety that’s been around in the Hawaiian pantry for ages. But the Lihilihi Molina disappeared and was thought to be lost and extinct. In the late 1980s or early 90s it was re-discovered in an abandoned lo’i (taro patch) on Kaua’i. The corm is purple in the center and white on the outside. We got this variety from Hilary, who got it from Lyn and Geoff, who got it from the late Jerry Konanui.
Chris Lum is visiting the Big Island tomorrow and I’ve been really looking forward to it. It’s been a while since he’s been back to Hawaii, so that means it’s laulau time! Happy Birthday Chris! We’ll continue the celebration when you arrive.
Originally posted on 2021-08-05, part of the daily planting journal behind Ha’a Chocolate’s food forest on Hawai’i Island.