Ke Alahou, Volume I, Number 6, 1 May 1980 — Ka Hana Mahina Ai Ka Lau – Taro Leaves [ARTICLE]

Ka Hana Mahina Ai

Ka Lau - Taro Leaves

Sometimes known as {he"spinach" of Hawaii, the Iau or leaf of the taro is also used in cooking. The taro leaf is indeed a good substitute for spinach, however taro Ieaves must be cooked to remove an "itchy sensation" caused by raphides - crystals of ealeium oxa!ate. Some families will strip or peel the outer skin of the stalks and leaves so tp minimize the cooking time needed to eliminate the crystals. Others will Just eook the !eaves and stalks a little bit longer than necessary, Bcsides using the leaves as a spinach substitute or creamed [lu'au], mixed with meats. „Hiany famTĪIes vvTH ūse fhelēāves as 'alTē3iBTe wfāpping for laulau or cooked food bundles. There are niany farmers who have grown taro Just for the harvesting' of leaves to be so!d for lu'au or laulau. This type of farming is becoming more md more popu!ar today, Manv of these farmers \vt!l harvest only the new leaf and the first or second leaf of the planl. Also.' farmers will not harvest any fcofms form these p]ants for the !iarvesting of the leaves inhibits the corm to develop. These are some of the rc asons why farmers have selected certain varieties for ihe purpose of harvesting the !eaves. One ean use

. such varieties as Apuwai, Apu. Aweu. Maokea. Hapuu. Kalalau, Lauloa. Mann, Oopukai. Piko. Wehiwa. Moana and Bun-!ong (Chinese variety). Apuwai* and Apu are probably the varieties most favoced by families for fy'au. Lauloa. Mana and Moana are prēferēd for laulau. Hovvevei\ Bim-iong and a recently introduced variety Makalau are rapidly becoming just as popular because lhēy are easy to grow, especially in home §ardens. Another favorite are the New Zealand varieties of small cormed taro simllar to the Japanese varieties called dasheens. grown by the Maoris in the North Island produce extreme large !eaves, but they do dormant'like gmger or ofena and must be planted In successive p!antings. The Apuwai and Apu are quite easy to distinguisli from otht i \ aneties because their leaves tend to form a eup shipe- henee the name "4ipu."The difference betvveen them is that Apuuai'ho!ds its eup shape enough to hold rain \vater. Thi/water was coasidered to be sacred because it wasmpt contammateJ by louchrng the ground ōr humaa hands. A!so k ean be used to maie a gopd poi while Apu is

considered a tab!e tar6r Both mature in G to 9 nionths and produce 5 to 10 oha or shoots. They both have crinkled blades and are a !lght green. The f!esh of the corm is a white-cha!ky color. t ßoth taro varieties ean be planted in wet or dry !and style. * * Ka Hana Mahina*ai Ua kapa 'ia uuuae'i he spiuuch o Hawai'i nei, a 'o ka lau o ke kalo he mea maika'i uo. A e hulike pu me ka Spiuach i ka ho'okuke 'ana< Aka, pono no ho'i ke ho'okuke no ka. mea, iloko o ka lau he mau mea niaue'o i kapa 'ia he A ua pau ka maue'o iua e ho'ili paha i ka ili o ka lau a e ho'okuke no ka manawa e mo'a palupalu, A ina he kanalua no ka pau o ka maue'o» e ho'okuke no ka manawalo*ihi nui. A*o , ka haua kuke, he mea 'ouo ma ka lu'au he'e paha ame ka wahi laulau. 'O kekahi maukauaka mahi ai e ulu a 'olii i ke uo ua lau wale uo, A e 'olii wale no i ka lau moliala ~iuua jVia ka laupe'a a i 'ole ka paha; a e 'ohi 'ole ke mahi'ai i ke kalo uy ka mea, iua e 'ohi mau i ka lau, alaiia e ho'eml i ka uui o ka 'ulu 'ana o ke aklo malalo-