Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 9, 1 September 2008 — Taro Security and Purity Task Force applications [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Taro Security and Purity Task Force applications

By Sterling Weng ŪHA Pūlicy Advūcate The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is seeking applicants for members of a task force that will develop recommendations and programs to help protect kalo, a crop plant sacred to Native Hawaiians that is being decimated by alien diseases and insects. Recently named Hawai'i's state plant, kalo is used to make poi, the staple of the traditional Hawaiian diet, and is considered to be the elder sibling of Native Hawaiians, according to their traditions. However, kalo production fell to just 4 milhon pounds harvested in 2007, a record low since statistics were first documented in 1946. This shortage has been blamed on a number of factors, including diseases and ahen species,

such apple snahs, as well as the laek of water and taro land. Act 211, whieh was signed by Gov. Linda Lingle in Iuly, calls for the creation of the Taro Security and Purity Task Force, whieh will be administered by OHA. The aim of the task force is to bring together the various kalo stakeholder groups, including fanners, Native Hawaiians and scientists, for the eonnnon goal of helping the plant onee again thrive. The task force will attempt to find solutions to the problems facing the crop, while avoiding the divisive issue of genetic modification research. The task force will include one representative from OHA; the state Department of Land and Natural Resources; the state Department of Agriculture; the University of Hawai'i; the Hawai'i Fann Bureau Federation; 'Onipa'aNāHuiKalo,

a statewide organization of kalo farmers; and a yet-to-be-selected botanical garden. The task force will also include two kalo fanners from eaeh of the following islands: Kaua'i, O'ahu, Maui, Moloka'i and Hawai'i. OHA is seeking applicants to fill these fanner seats on the task force. Applicants must fulfill the following qualifications: 1) be a fanner actively growing kalo 2) have at least three years of kalo fanning experience; 3) be growing kalo on the island they seek to represent; and 4) be able to participate in task force activities, including traveling to other islands to attend meetings. As the administrator of the group, OHA will select the best qualified kalo farmer applicants to serve as task force representatives. In addition, OHA will cover the costs for holding the task force meetings, as well as the travel fees for the taro fanner representatives. The deadline to send applications

is Sept. 15, 2008. Applications must be written and include the applicant's full name, address, a brief description of their fulfilhnent of the four qualifications, and a short list of what they believe are the most important issues facing kalo.

Please send applications to Sterling Wong of OHA's Native Rights, Land and Culture division, viae-mail to sterlingw@oha.org, or snail mail to: 711 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 500, Honolulu, HI 96813. For information, eall 594-0248. ^

KAIĀULU - CDMMUNIĪY

Taro, a crop plant sacred to Native Hawaiians, saw its 2007 haivest fall to its lowest numbers in more than a half century. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom