Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 38, Number 5, 1 May 2021 — An Experiment in Caring for Kalo [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

An Experiment in Caring for Kalo

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By Piliwale Kaai, Grade 11 Hālau Kū Māna Public Charter School This school year, my classmates and I were tasked with developing an experiment that would teach us how to take care of kalo. I hypothesized that when talking to the plants, speaking in 'ōlelo Hawai'i is more heneheial than speaking in 'ōlelo pelekania. I reasoned that kalo is a native plant and, like humans, requires good transference of love and positive energy. Speaking nicely and in our mother tongue, therefore, should be heneheial to both the kalo and its caretaker. My hypothesis was based on lessons shared with our class by 'Anakala Kū'ike 'Ohelo. He taught us that family members have a responsibility to take care of eaeh other, and since kalo is alive it should be treated as our own keiki. In my experiment, I spoke Hawaiian to one plant (Kalo 'Ekahi) and English to another (Kalo 'Elua) to see how both plants might be impacted. When tending to kalo, I often think of an 'ōlelo no'eau that references Hāloa, the stillborn son of Wākea, from whose burial site the first kalo sprung: "Hāloa ke kalo, Hāloa ke kānaka," meaning "Hāloa the plant, Hāloa the human." As I started to mālama my kalo I eame up with a routine that reflected this understanding. I fed eaeh kalo 20 ounces of wai

three times a day and made sure I thought good thoughts as I prepared to greet them. I would greet Kalo 'Ekahi with "Pehea 'oe, e Hāloa," and Kalo 'Elua with "Good Morning, Hāloa." Eaeh Friday I measured their lau and checked for signs of developing 'ohā. In November, as we were transitioning from Kū Season to Lono Season, the wind started to piek up, creating holes in the lau of Kalo 'Elua versus little to no holes in those of Kalo 'Ekahi. The following month, I noticed that Kalo 'Elua had gained some of its colors and had started to reshape and reform into its original state. The mahae on eaeh lau were the same and were very distinct in color, and the size of the lau remained at 12 inches for some time. When I returned a week later, I noticed that Kalo 'Ekahi started to sprout an 'ohā! That night I looked at the moon and it was Mōhalu, whieh means to unfold or to blossom. I thought that was a eool connection in itself. The kalo I'd been speaking to in English had not yet sprouted any 'ohā. The experiment is ongoing, but I believe that my hypothesis so far has been true. Our experiments with kalo will help to further research. This experience has helped me to figure out my career path and discover my passions for my future. It also taught me that it is my responsibility to learn and preserve our 'ōlelo Hawai'i. In closing, I would like to highlight the saying "Ko'iko'i ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i - Hawaiian language is imperative and important" to the thriving of our lāhui and eommunities. ■