1 00:00:09,933 --> 00:00:15,166 [Capri] In the land of aloha, a new generation of farmers 2 00:00:15,300 --> 00:00:17,800 is returning to an ancestral food. 3 00:00:17,933 --> 00:00:19,166 Just keeping that tradition going 4 00:00:19,300 --> 00:00:22,133 and bringing it back to people's plates. 5 00:00:23,866 --> 00:00:25,966 [Capri] They're supplying the community of Ouaho... 6 00:00:27,033 --> 00:00:27,933 These are the tools. 7 00:00:28,066 --> 00:00:31,333 This is the food that our ancestors ate 8 00:00:31,466 --> 00:00:33,433 for thousands of years. 9 00:00:36,133 --> 00:00:37,800 [Capri] ...with the means to reconnect 10 00:00:37,933 --> 00:00:39,433 with their Hawaiian heritage. 11 00:00:41,633 --> 00:00:45,400 And to welcome everyone to the island table. 12 00:00:45,533 --> 00:00:47,700 To family, everybody. To family. 13 00:00:52,233 --> 00:00:54,400 I'm Capri Cafaro and I'm on a mission 14 00:00:54,533 --> 00:00:56,533 to uncover the incredible stories 15 00:00:56,666 --> 00:00:57,900 of the foods we grow... 16 00:00:59,466 --> 00:01:01,866 ...harvest, create... 17 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:04,033 ...and celebrate. 18 00:01:04,833 --> 00:01:06,533 Beautiful, amazing meal. 19 00:01:07,266 --> 00:01:09,066 So, I'm traveling America's backroads 20 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:10,733 to learn our cherished food traditions... 21 00:01:10,866 --> 00:01:11,800 Whoa. 22 00:01:11,933 --> 00:01:13,366 ...from those who make them possible... 23 00:01:13,500 --> 00:01:14,500 Look at that. 24 00:01:14,633 --> 00:01:16,433 ...and are helping keep them alive. 25 00:01:16,566 --> 00:01:18,133 There is so much more to learn. 26 00:01:20,233 --> 00:01:21,933 Whoa! 27 00:01:22,066 --> 00:01:24,000 [Capri] On "America the Bountiful." 28 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:30,633 [announcer] America's farmers have nourished us 29 00:01:30,766 --> 00:01:32,266 for generations, 30 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,633 but today they face unprecedented challenges. 31 00:01:35,766 --> 00:01:38,166 American Farmland Trust works with farmers 32 00:01:38,300 --> 00:01:40,566 to help save the land that sustains us. 33 00:01:40,700 --> 00:01:43,700 Together we can work to keep America bountiful. 34 00:01:46,966 --> 00:01:48,366 [Capri] Taro has been grown in Hawaii 35 00:01:48,500 --> 00:01:51,800 since it was brought to the archipelago 1,500 years ago 36 00:01:51,933 --> 00:01:54,766 by the first Polynesians that inhabited the islands. 37 00:01:56,133 --> 00:01:59,400 They voyaged from the area now known as the Marquesas Islands 38 00:01:59,533 --> 00:02:01,666 using only the stars to navigate. 39 00:02:13,166 --> 00:02:14,566 Ku'uipo Garrido 40 00:02:14,700 --> 00:02:16,500 is a certified Hawaiian studies teacher 41 00:02:16,633 --> 00:02:18,000 and serves on the Board of Directors 42 00:02:18,133 --> 00:02:20,766 for the Na Mae Kupono Learning Center 43 00:02:20,900 --> 00:02:23,300 where she helps grow taro for educational purposes. 44 00:02:26,066 --> 00:02:29,000 Kalo is the ancestral plant to the native Hawaiian people who-- 45 00:02:29,133 --> 00:02:30,166 Kalo is??? 46 00:02:30,300 --> 00:02:31,566 The Hawaiian word for taro. 47 00:02:31,700 --> 00:02:32,566 Got it. 48 00:02:32,700 --> 00:02:33,866 And Polynesians say taro. 49 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:34,933 Taro. 50 00:02:35,066 --> 00:02:37,633 Yes, and so kalo is the ancestral plant 51 00:02:37,766 --> 00:02:39,966 to the native Hawaiian people who we call Kanaka Maoli. 52 00:02:40,100 --> 00:02:44,500 And there's a story of creation that speaks of the relationship 53 00:02:44,633 --> 00:02:46,033 that they have to this plant. 54 00:02:46,166 --> 00:02:53,266 And it speaks of how kalo was born of Wakea, Sky Father. 55 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:54,466 Sky Father. 56 00:02:54,600 --> 00:03:00,733 And papa earth, mother, they gave birth to the land, 57 00:03:00,866 --> 00:03:04,333 but they had a daughter and her name was Ho'ohokukalani. 58 00:03:04,466 --> 00:03:06,633 And they had a child together, 59 00:03:06,766 --> 00:03:09,133 and this was the first kanaka, the first Hawaiian. 60 00:03:09,266 --> 00:03:11,366 But the baby was stillborn. 61 00:03:11,500 --> 00:03:14,566 From the grave, the plant kalo grew. 62 00:03:14,700 --> 00:03:17,533 So, the baby's destiny was to be the seed to grow this plant. 63 00:03:17,666 --> 00:03:21,133 And then they had a second child and they named him Haloa 64 00:03:21,266 --> 00:03:22,600 after the elder sibling. 65 00:03:22,733 --> 00:03:23,866 He was healthy. 66 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:25,433 They took the plant that grew from the firstborn's grave 67 00:03:25,566 --> 00:03:27,233 and they fed it to the second child, 68 00:03:27,366 --> 00:03:29,100 and that began the relationship of, 69 00:03:29,233 --> 00:03:30,700 it's the elder brother's responsibility 70 00:03:30,833 --> 00:03:33,433 to be the food and to malama, 71 00:03:33,566 --> 00:03:34,866 to take care of his younger brother. 72 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:35,866 And to nourish. 73 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:37,533 To nourish it, to help Hawaiian people. 74 00:03:37,666 --> 00:03:42,266 When taro was being harvested 75 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:47,166 even much more regularly at this point centuries ago, 76 00:03:47,300 --> 00:03:48,233 what did that look like 77 00:03:48,366 --> 00:03:50,900 from a practice perspective agriculturally? 78 00:03:51,033 --> 00:03:54,666 Well, they were amazing hydraulic engineers 79 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:56,566 and they were so connected to the land 80 00:03:56,700 --> 00:03:58,266 because they saw themselves as one with it. 81 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,133 So, it was their main staple of their diet. 82 00:04:01,266 --> 00:04:04,466 And so, when this whole valley at one point 83 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:07,600 was probably all kalo-- 84 00:04:07,733 --> 00:04:09,066 But something changed along the way. 85 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:10,200 Yes. 86 00:04:10,333 --> 00:04:11,866 What changed there, and how did that impact 87 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,366 the ability for the taro to thrive? 88 00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:15,966 Well, many changes occurred 89 00:04:16,100 --> 00:04:18,566 from the first impact of Captain Cook 90 00:04:18,700 --> 00:04:20,000 being that he brought diseases. 91 00:04:20,133 --> 00:04:22,000 So many Hawaiians began to die out, right. 92 00:04:22,133 --> 00:04:23,633 And then with the introduction 93 00:04:23,766 --> 00:04:25,233 of pineapple and sugar cane field, 94 00:04:25,366 --> 00:04:29,700 with bringing in that type of farming practice, 95 00:04:29,833 --> 00:04:31,900 they didn't just take some of the water, 96 00:04:32,033 --> 00:04:33,333 they took all of the water. 97 00:04:33,466 --> 00:04:35,533 So, if your family was farming on the land 98 00:04:35,666 --> 00:04:37,100 that you had for hundreds of years, 99 00:04:37,233 --> 00:04:39,333 then all of a sudden one day that water stops, 100 00:04:39,466 --> 00:04:41,366 how can you farm your kalo? 101 00:04:41,500 --> 00:04:42,966 Then the variety dies out. 102 00:04:43,100 --> 00:04:45,733 And the farmer has to go and get a 9 to 5 job 103 00:04:45,866 --> 00:04:48,033 then he's not teaching his son to farm, 104 00:04:48,166 --> 00:04:49,733 who's not going to teach his son to farm. 105 00:04:49,866 --> 00:04:53,000 So, but what we're doing today is we're trying to hold onto 106 00:04:53,133 --> 00:04:59,200 what we have, and just to keep the kalos breath alive. 107 00:04:59,333 --> 00:05:02,966 And majority of us taro farmers are in our 60s. 108 00:05:03,100 --> 00:05:05,133 I'm like trailing behind on the 60s, 109 00:05:05,266 --> 00:05:06,466 but then we have hope now 110 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:08,633 because we have like, young taro farmers right here. 111 00:05:08,766 --> 00:05:14,266 This Laad here at [speaking Hawaiian] he gives me hope. 112 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:18,333 I'm getting emotional because it's really important 113 00:05:18,466 --> 00:05:21,500 that we support farmers like this 114 00:05:21,633 --> 00:05:24,100 and keep that knowledge alive. 115 00:05:24,233 --> 00:05:26,633 Because what happens after I go 116 00:05:26,766 --> 00:05:29,533 and the ones that I learned from, they are gone. 117 00:05:29,666 --> 00:05:32,900 And so, that whole generational passing down the knowledge 118 00:05:33,033 --> 00:05:35,700 to generation to generation, that must continue. 119 00:05:35,833 --> 00:05:37,833 And so, when I met Laad 120 00:05:37,966 --> 00:05:40,166 and knowing what he's doing out here by himself, 121 00:05:40,300 --> 00:05:41,766 it just gives me hope. 122 00:05:41,900 --> 00:05:43,966 And this is Laad. 123 00:05:44,100 --> 00:05:45,166 Hi, Laad. 124 00:05:45,300 --> 00:05:46,366 Hello. 125 00:05:47,700 --> 00:05:49,833 [Capri] Laad Ahchoy is one of the very few taro farmers 126 00:05:49,966 --> 00:05:52,533 in Hawaii under the age of 60. 127 00:05:52,666 --> 00:05:55,833 He began growing here in Pu'uhonua in 2020 128 00:05:55,966 --> 00:05:58,533 and now harvests roughly 200 pounds per week. 129 00:06:01,166 --> 00:06:02,733 What's the anatomy of this plant here? 130 00:06:02,866 --> 00:06:03,733 Here, I'll show you. 131 00:06:03,866 --> 00:06:05,933 So, we use this tool, it's called an oo, 132 00:06:06,066 --> 00:06:07,600 in this case a broken shovel. 133 00:06:10,033 --> 00:06:12,033 Usually, we just want to break off the babies 134 00:06:12,166 --> 00:06:13,166 and find the parent plant. 135 00:06:13,300 --> 00:06:14,166 Okay. 136 00:06:14,300 --> 00:06:15,600 And I'll reach down in there. 137 00:06:15,733 --> 00:06:17,433 After we get the babies off of it, 138 00:06:17,566 --> 00:06:21,500 then we see the corm. 139 00:06:21,633 --> 00:06:25,266 So, this is called the corm so that is the actual taro root. 140 00:06:26,866 --> 00:06:27,766 Yeah, this is the part 141 00:06:27,900 --> 00:06:29,666 that we'll be able to make the poi out of. 142 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:30,900 Okay. 143 00:06:31,033 --> 00:06:31,966 Eat it like a potato. 144 00:06:32,100 --> 00:06:33,266 Right. 145 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:35,966 How did you decide that you wanted to get into agriculture 146 00:06:36,100 --> 00:06:37,866 and grow taro specifically? 147 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,866 Well, like Ku'uipo was saying it's about passing on 148 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:43,566 what was passed on to us. 149 00:06:43,700 --> 00:06:47,300 So, there's a lot of old kalo farmers out there 150 00:06:47,433 --> 00:06:50,566 and this is not the most desirable job 151 00:06:50,700 --> 00:06:53,066 for a lot of people. 152 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:54,433 Why is it important for you? 153 00:06:54,566 --> 00:06:55,600 Well, it's important for me 154 00:06:55,733 --> 00:06:58,933 because I just want to continue it on for my family, 155 00:06:59,066 --> 00:07:01,000 for the next generation. 156 00:07:01,133 --> 00:07:04,000 And there's not a lot of young farmers out there. 157 00:07:04,133 --> 00:07:07,333 So, I think just keeping that tradition going 158 00:07:07,466 --> 00:07:11,166 and bringing it back to people's plates. 159 00:07:11,300 --> 00:07:12,933 Right now, we eat a lot of rice. 160 00:07:13,066 --> 00:07:15,966 So, getting kalo on the diet is really important. 161 00:07:16,100 --> 00:07:19,933 What are some of the good properties of the kalo 162 00:07:20,066 --> 00:07:22,066 that makes it important to be back on the plate? 163 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:23,633 Well, it's high in carbohydrates 164 00:07:23,766 --> 00:07:26,066 and it's really nutrient dense. 165 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:27,966 How much of this do you produce a year? 166 00:07:28,100 --> 00:07:30,800 About 200 pounds every week. 167 00:07:30,933 --> 00:07:34,033 So, what we're picking today, what you're harvesting, 168 00:07:34,166 --> 00:07:36,233 where are they going to go? 169 00:07:36,366 --> 00:07:37,400 Who do you give them to? 170 00:07:37,533 --> 00:07:38,633 These specifically are going to go 171 00:07:38,766 --> 00:07:40,433 to the Waiahole Poi Factory. 172 00:07:40,566 --> 00:07:42,400 [Capri] The kalo being harvested now 173 00:07:42,533 --> 00:07:45,533 has been growing for about 12 to 14 months. 174 00:07:45,666 --> 00:07:47,700 Laad plants new kalo every week 175 00:07:47,833 --> 00:07:49,600 so he can also be harvesting weekly 176 00:07:49,733 --> 00:07:51,966 without interruption year-round. 177 00:07:52,100 --> 00:07:54,966 He starts new plants by cutting the oha, or new growth, 178 00:07:55,100 --> 00:07:58,366 from the parent plant and plants them in a new [inaudible]. 179 00:07:59,533 --> 00:08:03,133 He brings the corns or roots to the Waiahole Poi Factory 180 00:08:03,266 --> 00:08:05,900 while the leaves are reserved for other uses. 181 00:08:06,966 --> 00:08:09,766 The Waiahole Poi Factory has been making poi 182 00:08:09,900 --> 00:08:13,200 for the community on Oahu for 120 years. 183 00:08:13,333 --> 00:08:15,933 Liko Hoe currently owns the restaurant 184 00:08:16,066 --> 00:08:18,333 which now includes an art gallery and market. 185 00:08:18,466 --> 00:08:23,166 He pounds taro into poi weekly, often with his daughter Mali. 186 00:08:27,700 --> 00:08:29,366 So, we got our kalo right in the middle here 187 00:08:29,500 --> 00:08:33,933 and this is kalo that's been cooked. 188 00:08:34,066 --> 00:08:36,800 We've taken off the outer skin and then now we just going 189 00:08:36,933 --> 00:08:38,833 to start to kind of rough pound it. 190 00:08:38,966 --> 00:08:41,200 Okay, is there a specific consistency 191 00:08:41,333 --> 00:08:42,800 you're looking for in this? 192 00:08:42,933 --> 00:08:44,233 Yes. Yes. 193 00:08:44,366 --> 00:08:45,400 It's, again the gumminess. 194 00:08:45,533 --> 00:08:47,000 It's like paste here. 195 00:08:47,133 --> 00:08:48,733 Right. Yeah. 196 00:08:48,866 --> 00:08:51,166 So, the goal for poi pounding 197 00:08:51,300 --> 00:08:55,200 is always to get it to one consistency. 198 00:08:55,333 --> 00:08:57,466 Did your dad teach you how to do this? 199 00:08:57,600 --> 00:08:58,733 Yeah, basically. 200 00:08:58,866 --> 00:08:59,866 How'd you learn? 201 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,700 So, my first teacher was my dad. 202 00:09:02,833 --> 00:09:08,166 My parents got the lease here in the early 70s, 203 00:09:08,300 --> 00:09:11,133 and in Hawaii that was a time 204 00:09:11,266 --> 00:09:12,566 when actually a lot of our culture 205 00:09:12,700 --> 00:09:14,833 was getting really diminished. 206 00:09:14,966 --> 00:09:19,433 And my parents along with others in their generation 207 00:09:19,566 --> 00:09:28,133 really made a effort to try to kind of preserve those pieces. 208 00:09:28,266 --> 00:09:31,733 You know basically, these are the tools, 209 00:09:31,866 --> 00:09:35,766 this is the food that our ancestors ate 210 00:09:35,900 --> 00:09:37,733 for thousands of years. 211 00:09:37,866 --> 00:09:41,533 And this is the way that they prepared it. 212 00:09:41,666 --> 00:09:44,566 So, you can kind of have that connection. 213 00:09:44,700 --> 00:09:47,700 So traditionally, when people learn how to pound poi, 214 00:09:47,833 --> 00:09:51,633 it would've been maybe like 6, 7, 8 years old. 215 00:09:51,766 --> 00:09:54,633 So just watching, to me that's always the first step. 216 00:09:54,766 --> 00:09:56,366 Just kind of seeing what's going on. 217 00:09:56,500 --> 00:09:58,066 And another piece that's important 218 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:00,366 when you first learning with poi is to start small. 219 00:10:00,500 --> 00:10:01,633 Okay. 220 00:10:01,766 --> 00:10:03,333 So, first step, you're going to kind of take your stone 221 00:10:03,466 --> 00:10:05,600 and usually I go with two hands, 222 00:10:05,733 --> 00:10:07,533 and you kind of go with the edge 223 00:10:07,666 --> 00:10:09,466 and you just try and rough pound it. 224 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:10,700 There you go, perfect. 225 00:10:10,833 --> 00:10:12,200 Yeah. Nice. 226 00:10:12,333 --> 00:10:13,566 Alright. 227 00:10:13,700 --> 00:10:15,033 And then you can add yeah. 228 00:10:15,166 --> 00:10:17,433 Obviously, poi is part of who you are, 229 00:10:17,566 --> 00:10:19,300 so how do you like to eat it? 230 00:10:19,433 --> 00:10:24,100 Yeah so, my kind of go-to dish at the Poi Factory is Beef Lu'au 231 00:10:24,233 --> 00:10:27,233 which is basically the taro leaf which is stewed down 232 00:10:27,366 --> 00:10:29,800 and then you add beef. 233 00:10:29,933 --> 00:10:31,466 So, it's kind of like a hearty stew. 234 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,066 And basically, any type of stew 235 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:38,366 is a really good compliment to poi. 236 00:10:38,500 --> 00:10:41,233 So really, the poi in traditional Hawaiian food 237 00:10:41,366 --> 00:10:44,900 is like the anchor of the meal. 238 00:10:45,033 --> 00:10:47,433 I'm ready to try to taste this anchor. 239 00:10:47,566 --> 00:10:48,866 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 240 00:10:49,766 --> 00:10:51,866 [Capri] Liko ferments the poi and adds some water 241 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,166 to achieve the consistency he desires. 242 00:10:55,933 --> 00:10:59,533 Today, he's serving poi with beef lu'au and squid lu'au. 243 00:11:02,866 --> 00:11:04,166 Normally when you're eating poi, 244 00:11:04,300 --> 00:11:06,200 I mean, traditionally, you would eat with your fingers. 245 00:11:06,333 --> 00:11:09,266 But with a spoon you kind of dip 246 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:11,633 and then you give it like a twirl like that. 247 00:11:11,766 --> 00:11:12,833 Dip and twirl. 248 00:11:12,966 --> 00:11:16,766 Okay. Dip and a twirl. 249 00:11:16,900 --> 00:11:18,000 Alight. 250 00:11:18,333 --> 00:11:20,133 And then that tail will kind of wrap up. 251 00:11:20,266 --> 00:11:21,433 I love it. 252 00:11:21,566 --> 00:11:23,100 And, right now it has a real fresh taste. 253 00:11:23,233 --> 00:11:24,233 I was going to say, it's very fresh. 254 00:11:24,366 --> 00:11:25,866 It's not super tangy. 255 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:27,066 No, it doesn't have that tang yet. 256 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:29,066 So, if we left this out like a day or two, 257 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:30,533 it will get that tanginess to it. 258 00:11:30,666 --> 00:11:33,733 Now, is there a good way to mix these things together? 259 00:11:33,866 --> 00:11:36,800 You kind of just go and whatever proportion you like. 260 00:11:36,933 --> 00:11:39,233 You might kind of take some of the stew. 261 00:11:41,033 --> 00:11:44,966 Mmm, this tastes like it's very slow cooked. 262 00:11:45,100 --> 00:11:47,000 Yeah. 263 00:11:47,133 --> 00:11:49,800 So just this like any parts of the taro plant, 264 00:11:49,933 --> 00:11:51,666 it has to be well cooked. 265 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:53,866 You've got to really stew it down. 266 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:55,033 That's right. 267 00:11:55,166 --> 00:11:56,166 I'll try this one now. 268 00:11:57,833 --> 00:11:59,866 Mmm, oh yeah. 269 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,766 This is great too because I taste the coconut 270 00:12:03,900 --> 00:12:06,100 but then with the octopus, it's almost like I'm getting 271 00:12:06,233 --> 00:12:09,000 that fresh ocean salt water action. 272 00:12:09,133 --> 00:12:12,100 And then I feel like the poi, 273 00:12:12,233 --> 00:12:15,133 it's like this beautiful balancing-- 274 00:12:15,266 --> 00:12:16,333 Balancing everything off. 275 00:12:16,466 --> 00:12:18,366 Unbelievable. 276 00:12:18,500 --> 00:12:20,766 I feel like you all have welcomed me 277 00:12:20,900 --> 00:12:22,100 into your family today. 278 00:12:22,233 --> 00:12:24,766 And you too Laad because you brought me into your farm. 279 00:12:24,900 --> 00:12:28,000 I now understand how this whole cycle works. 280 00:12:28,133 --> 00:12:32,633 Especially for Laad, being one of the farmers on Oahu 281 00:12:32,766 --> 00:12:36,500 where it's difficult to find the resources and the land 282 00:12:36,633 --> 00:12:38,533 and the water to grow kalo. 283 00:12:38,666 --> 00:12:40,166 We appreciate that. 284 00:12:40,300 --> 00:12:41,533 You know, you're one of the farmers 285 00:12:41,666 --> 00:12:46,033 who's really kind of showing that commitment to kalo. 286 00:12:46,166 --> 00:12:48,000 And taking it to the next generation. 287 00:12:48,133 --> 00:12:49,600 That's the goal. 288 00:12:49,733 --> 00:12:50,600 Absolutely. 289 00:12:50,733 --> 00:12:53,100 Well, you know, somebody has to do it, 290 00:12:53,233 --> 00:12:56,933 and it takes commitment to make this poi as well. 291 00:12:57,066 --> 00:12:58,966 So mahala , to commitment. 292 00:13:01,433 --> 00:13:04,366 [Capri] While taro is most used in savory preparations, 293 00:13:04,500 --> 00:13:07,300 it's also the driving force behind a sweet dish, 294 00:13:07,433 --> 00:13:10,733 often liken bread pudding called kulolo. 295 00:13:12,066 --> 00:13:16,300 Keanue Kakalua sells family made kulolo with his sister Rose 296 00:13:16,433 --> 00:13:18,633 at the Honolulu Farmers Market. 297 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:23,533 So, we have kulolo which is a traditional Hawaiian dessert 298 00:13:23,666 --> 00:13:24,666 and this is kulolo here. 299 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,166 It's made from taro, coconut milk and sugar. 300 00:13:29,166 --> 00:13:31,700 You get the raw taro, you peel it. 301 00:13:31,833 --> 00:13:33,866 You cut it up and you grate it. 302 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:37,133 Mix in the ingredients, the coconut cream, 303 00:13:37,266 --> 00:13:39,633 the sweetener and then its steamed. 304 00:13:45,133 --> 00:13:49,200 Oh my goodness, it's so different than poi. 305 00:13:49,333 --> 00:13:50,200 The texture is different. 306 00:13:50,333 --> 00:13:51,600 You're right. 307 00:13:51,733 --> 00:13:53,433 The sweetness is there. 308 00:13:53,566 --> 00:13:55,333 But it's not really bold. 309 00:13:55,466 --> 00:13:56,533 Right. 310 00:13:56,666 --> 00:13:58,300 It's just there saying, 311 00:13:58,433 --> 00:14:01,000 "Hey, I'm coconut and I'm sugar." 312 00:14:01,133 --> 00:14:02,333 -That's good. -Right. 313 00:14:02,466 --> 00:14:03,766 Now, what about the other one? 314 00:14:03,900 --> 00:14:06,633 So, haupia, this is the haupia right here, by itself. 315 00:14:06,766 --> 00:14:07,966 -Okay. -Okay. 316 00:14:08,100 --> 00:14:10,800 And so, believe it or not this is actually traditional as well. 317 00:14:10,933 --> 00:14:14,100 So haupia is a firm coconut pudding. 318 00:14:14,233 --> 00:14:18,333 And so traditionally the pia in haupia 319 00:14:18,466 --> 00:14:20,033 is what was the thickener. 320 00:14:20,166 --> 00:14:23,100 And so, the ingredients in haupia is coconut milk, 321 00:14:23,233 --> 00:14:25,533 sugar and then starch. 322 00:14:25,666 --> 00:14:28,466 So, and it was the pia starch which is our root. 323 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:31,100 It's cooked and it's poured over the kulolo 324 00:14:31,233 --> 00:14:34,233 and it creates like, this firm pudding. 325 00:14:34,366 --> 00:14:35,233 And you know what? 326 00:14:35,366 --> 00:14:36,633 Let me get you a little toothpick here. 327 00:14:36,766 --> 00:14:40,033 Normally at luaus, you'll see them side by side. 328 00:14:40,166 --> 00:14:44,433 My brother has created it so it's all in one bite. 329 00:14:44,566 --> 00:14:45,433 I love that. 330 00:14:45,566 --> 00:14:47,566 And we say how normal is that? 331 00:14:47,700 --> 00:14:49,300 I love a perfect bite. 332 00:14:49,433 --> 00:14:50,633 I love that balance. 333 00:14:50,766 --> 00:14:52,366 It's kind of our own spin 334 00:14:52,500 --> 00:14:54,066 on two traditional Hawaiian desserts. 335 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:55,200 I love it. 336 00:14:55,333 --> 00:14:57,100 Two great tastes that taste great together. 337 00:14:57,233 --> 00:14:58,200 Can I get another one of those toothpicks 338 00:14:58,333 --> 00:14:59,800 because I want one more of these for the road. 339 00:14:59,933 --> 00:15:01,433 Sure can. 340 00:15:03,433 --> 00:15:06,333 [Capri] While the taro root, or corm, provides the starchy base 341 00:15:06,466 --> 00:15:09,166 in both savory and sweet applications, 342 00:15:09,300 --> 00:15:10,600 the leaves are also used 343 00:15:10,733 --> 00:15:12,900 in a number of traditional dishes. 344 00:15:13,033 --> 00:15:14,900 One method is in a lau lau 345 00:15:15,033 --> 00:15:16,366 where the leaves are wrapped around 346 00:15:16,500 --> 00:15:19,100 pork and butter fish and then steamed inside of tea leaves. 347 00:15:22,066 --> 00:15:25,166 Monica Toguchi Ryan is the owner of Highway Inn Restaurants 348 00:15:25,300 --> 00:15:28,766 founded by her grandparents in 1947. 349 00:15:28,900 --> 00:15:30,666 She serves lau lau at her restaurants 350 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:32,600 and also enjoys making them with her father 351 00:15:32,733 --> 00:15:34,200 for family gatherings. 352 00:15:35,866 --> 00:15:37,300 My dad, he's going to help us 353 00:15:37,433 --> 00:15:39,066 because he really is the master 354 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:40,500 lau lau maker. 355 00:15:40,633 --> 00:15:42,866 I feel honored to have an opportunity to learn 356 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,166 from two of the best I'm sure here. 357 00:15:45,300 --> 00:15:47,800 He much better, I must admit, than I am 358 00:15:47,933 --> 00:15:49,366 having done it for 30 years. 359 00:15:49,500 --> 00:15:50,500 A lot of experience here. 360 00:15:50,633 --> 00:15:52,233 So, we're going to learn how to make lau lau. 361 00:15:52,366 --> 00:15:53,633 -You ready? -I am. 362 00:15:53,766 --> 00:15:55,333 -Okay, we're going to build the first one together. 363 00:15:55,466 --> 00:15:57,500 So, I'm going to give you some of these leaves. 364 00:15:57,633 --> 00:15:58,766 So, you're going to build your base 365 00:15:58,900 --> 00:16:01,600 and we're going to take about, again preference, 366 00:16:01,733 --> 00:16:06,066 about three pieces of pork butt. 367 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:09,200 I'll do like two pieces of pork belly. 368 00:16:09,333 --> 00:16:12,833 And then I'll put a piece of butter fish. 369 00:16:12,966 --> 00:16:17,666 So, once you got your base, you start to kind of just build it. 370 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:19,300 Okay, so you put these on top then. 371 00:16:19,433 --> 00:16:20,866 Yeah, you could put it on top. 372 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:22,000 So you don't wrap? 373 00:16:22,133 --> 00:16:23,166 You can. 374 00:16:23,300 --> 00:16:24,266 So, like what my dad's doing 375 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:26,000 is he's already now making it into a ball. 376 00:16:26,133 --> 00:16:27,333 Oh, okay. 377 00:16:27,466 --> 00:16:29,233 And you're just going to keep wrapping it. 378 00:16:29,366 --> 00:16:32,100 It's laborious which is why this turns out to be a gift. 379 00:16:32,233 --> 00:16:34,400 Correct. It's a labor of love. 380 00:16:34,533 --> 00:16:35,700 A labor of aloha. 381 00:16:35,833 --> 00:16:38,866 So, to kind of keep this shape 382 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:43,133 we're going to use two tea leaves to wrap it. 383 00:16:43,266 --> 00:16:45,333 The tea leaf is not something that you eat, 384 00:16:45,466 --> 00:16:47,933 it's just used to hold the shape of the lau lau. 385 00:16:48,066 --> 00:16:50,433 But it also helps to protect it from burning. 386 00:16:50,566 --> 00:16:53,566 And it also provides some flavor. 387 00:16:53,700 --> 00:16:55,833 So, it's medicinal, it's cultural, 388 00:16:55,966 --> 00:16:58,933 it's spiritual and there's different kinds of tea leaves 389 00:16:59,066 --> 00:17:02,600 that you use for spiritual cultural uses. 390 00:17:02,733 --> 00:17:04,466 But what we're going to do 391 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:09,066 is we're going to help my dad have some space here. 392 00:17:09,766 --> 00:17:10,633 Oh, you got it? 393 00:17:10,766 --> 00:17:11,633 Oh, he's already done. 394 00:17:11,766 --> 00:17:12,700 Yeah, he's already done. 395 00:17:12,833 --> 00:17:14,033 He's totally way ahead of us. 396 00:17:14,166 --> 00:17:19,733 So, the most difficult part is wrapping the stem into a knot. 397 00:17:19,866 --> 00:17:21,933 So, I'm going to use this, 398 00:17:22,066 --> 00:17:25,900 kind of tie it around my two fingers 399 00:17:26,033 --> 00:17:27,800 to kind of give myself the hole. 400 00:17:27,933 --> 00:17:30,933 And then I'm going to like, loop it through there. 401 00:17:31,066 --> 00:17:33,733 And then pull it. 402 00:17:33,866 --> 00:17:35,533 Pull this. 403 00:17:35,666 --> 00:17:37,666 And you're going to pull that. 404 00:17:40,066 --> 00:17:41,133 Which part? This right here. 405 00:17:41,266 --> 00:17:43,933 So, we'll take like, 15 minutes to make one lau lau. 406 00:17:44,066 --> 00:17:45,533 My dad takes 20 seconds. 407 00:17:45,666 --> 00:17:46,700 Okay, yeah. 408 00:17:48,700 --> 00:17:50,566 [Capri] Monica and her dad place the tied lau lau 409 00:17:50,700 --> 00:17:52,833 into the steamer after which they'll cook 410 00:17:52,966 --> 00:17:54,300 for two to three hours. 411 00:17:55,666 --> 00:17:57,666 Monica serves the lau lau with a beautiful spread 412 00:17:57,800 --> 00:17:59,500 of traditional Hawaiian dishes. 413 00:18:07,666 --> 00:18:11,966 [Hawaiian singing and praying] 414 00:18:19,866 --> 00:18:21,266 Wow, looks fabulous. Let's eat. 415 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:24,466 This is incredible. Thank you so much. 416 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:28,366 I'm like, moved by that and by, 417 00:18:28,500 --> 00:18:30,066 this is just such a warm welcome. 418 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:33,866 Mahala for being here and sharing a meal with our ohana 419 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:35,000 and our friends and family. 420 00:18:35,133 --> 00:18:36,433 Thank you. Thank you very much. 421 00:18:36,566 --> 00:18:37,900 Okay where do we start? 422 00:18:38,033 --> 00:18:39,200 Everywhere. 423 00:18:39,333 --> 00:18:40,633 Anywhere and everywhere. 424 00:18:40,766 --> 00:18:44,200 I guess we have to start with the lau lau. 425 00:18:44,333 --> 00:18:46,133 Okay, this is the lau lau. 426 00:18:46,266 --> 00:18:47,600 Lau lau. 427 00:18:51,133 --> 00:18:53,433 So, this is kaolokai which is like shredded pork. 428 00:18:53,566 --> 00:18:55,633 And you just kind of eat it together 429 00:18:55,766 --> 00:18:56,933 and blend the flavors together. 430 00:18:57,066 --> 00:18:57,933 I'm ready. I'm ready. 431 00:18:58,066 --> 00:18:59,233 Mmm. 432 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:03,900 Ono. 433 00:19:04,033 --> 00:19:05,266 Ono. It's delicious. 434 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:06,466 Delicious. 435 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:07,766 It is very ono. 436 00:19:07,900 --> 00:19:09,666 This doesn't need anything. 437 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:13,033 Just that little bit of salt it's so, 438 00:19:13,166 --> 00:19:15,366 I wouldn't say rich. 439 00:19:15,500 --> 00:19:17,333 I don't know how to describe it. 440 00:19:17,466 --> 00:19:19,000 Like, it's earthy. 441 00:19:19,133 --> 00:19:20,733 Yeah that's-- 442 00:19:20,866 --> 00:19:22,000 It's earthy. 443 00:19:22,133 --> 00:19:25,200 You can tell it's nutritious. 444 00:19:25,333 --> 00:19:27,466 The pork is delicious. 445 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:29,933 I have to say I have to give a shout out 446 00:19:30,066 --> 00:19:31,566 to the butter fish in here. 447 00:19:31,700 --> 00:19:35,700 I mean, the butter fish is just unbelievable. 448 00:19:35,833 --> 00:19:38,133 I mean, you can tell that we are on an island. 449 00:19:38,266 --> 00:19:41,466 surrounded by fresh seafood at all time. 450 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:45,200 You're tasting everything that is abundant in the islands. 451 00:19:45,333 --> 00:19:48,000 Everything that the island or the land has given us. 452 00:19:48,133 --> 00:19:49,400 So, it's really important, 453 00:19:49,533 --> 00:19:52,066 especially in a lot of indigenous cultures 454 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:56,100 to be mindful of taking care of the aina 455 00:19:56,233 --> 00:19:57,800 so we say malama aina. 456 00:19:57,933 --> 00:19:58,900 What does that mean? 457 00:19:59,033 --> 00:20:00,933 Take care of the land. 458 00:20:01,066 --> 00:20:02,600 Take care of the land. 459 00:20:02,733 --> 00:20:05,133 And the land will take care of you. 460 00:20:05,266 --> 00:20:06,800 Oh that's, that's beautiful. 461 00:20:06,933 --> 00:20:08,400 It's actually one of our olelo naauao, 462 00:20:08,533 --> 00:20:11,433 which is our wise proverbs or sayings. 463 00:20:11,566 --> 00:20:13,300 That's definitely a sentiment 464 00:20:13,433 --> 00:20:15,166 that I'm going to take away with me. 465 00:20:15,300 --> 00:20:16,600 Sustainability. 466 00:20:16,733 --> 00:20:17,666 Sustainability. 467 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:21,133 Now, I have to ask, excuse the visitor here, 468 00:20:21,266 --> 00:20:23,266 but I'm learning so much. 469 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:27,633 And again, I think the average lay person who hears a luau, 470 00:20:27,766 --> 00:20:30,300 I've learned that luau is a potluck. 471 00:20:30,433 --> 00:20:31,466 Yes. 472 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:35,133 But we, I think, often associate the luau with kua 473 00:20:35,266 --> 00:20:37,300 and music. 474 00:20:37,433 --> 00:20:39,633 And like, does that happen too? 475 00:20:39,766 --> 00:20:43,000 [all speaking at once] 476 00:20:43,133 --> 00:20:44,400 When everybody brings a dish 477 00:20:44,533 --> 00:20:47,033 that you also bring all of your talents. 478 00:20:47,166 --> 00:20:48,600 And the other thing that we do too 479 00:20:48,733 --> 00:20:50,033 is a lot of times in Hawaii 480 00:20:50,166 --> 00:20:52,633 people in Hawaii, we have ukelele. 481 00:20:52,766 --> 00:20:54,133 Oh, yes. 482 00:20:54,266 --> 00:20:55,666 Another thing like food. 483 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:57,733 Like the food here is a collective 484 00:20:57,866 --> 00:21:01,400 that some is borrowed from different cultures. 485 00:21:01,533 --> 00:21:04,566 Ukulele is from Portugal. 486 00:21:04,700 --> 00:21:07,233 And it always gets accompanied almost always 487 00:21:07,366 --> 00:21:09,000 with the hula dancers. 488 00:21:09,133 --> 00:21:11,166 If they know a song, that they know how to dance-- 489 00:21:11,300 --> 00:21:13,633 One player, one musician and one dancer in every family. 490 00:21:13,766 --> 00:21:15,900 Every family has a choir. 491 00:21:16,033 --> 00:21:19,166 Then you better be not the only family out there 492 00:21:19,300 --> 00:21:20,533 that doesn't have this. 493 00:21:20,666 --> 00:21:22,166 Now, you built it up, 494 00:21:22,300 --> 00:21:25,966 and I'm expecting music and dancing now. 495 00:21:26,100 --> 00:21:27,400 Would you grace us, please? 496 00:21:27,533 --> 00:21:28,433 Are you ready? 497 00:21:28,566 --> 00:21:30,533 It's like a ukulele jam session. 498 00:21:31,233 --> 00:21:32,400 Oh, boy! 499 00:21:34,100 --> 00:21:35,133 You going to grace us with your-- 500 00:21:35,266 --> 00:21:36,700 Yeah, I mean, we're going to-- 501 00:21:36,833 --> 00:21:40,366 So, we are going to do this melee 502 00:21:40,500 --> 00:21:41,466 in honor of you. 503 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:42,466 Oh, my goodness. 504 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:47,933 [speaking all at once] 505 00:21:48,066 --> 00:21:52,033 [music begins] 506 00:21:52,166 --> 00:22:02,066 [singing in Hawaiian] 507 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:12,166 [singing in Hawaiian] 508 00:23:32,066 --> 00:23:36,866 [applause] 509 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:40,633 Wow that was so lovely, thank you. 510 00:23:40,766 --> 00:23:41,866 So, you ready? 511 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:43,366 -For? -It's your turn. 512 00:23:43,500 --> 00:23:44,733 Oh, no. 513 00:23:47,666 --> 00:23:48,966 You can't leave the islands 514 00:23:49,100 --> 00:23:51,200 without at least trying a few hula steps. 515 00:23:51,333 --> 00:23:53,433 Alright, well, who's going to help me out? 516 00:23:55,933 --> 00:24:01,100 Okay, so let's go, one, two, three, together. 517 00:24:01,233 --> 00:24:04,900 One, two, three, together. 518 00:24:05,033 --> 00:24:07,300 -That's a kaholo. -Okay. 519 00:24:07,433 --> 00:24:09,200 And then next-- 520 00:24:09,333 --> 00:24:10,200 Yes. 521 00:24:10,333 --> 00:24:13,433 Now bend the knees and swing the hip. 522 00:24:13,566 --> 00:24:15,966 Two, three, four. 523 00:24:16,100 --> 00:24:19,133 One, two, three, together. 524 00:24:19,266 --> 00:24:22,533 One, two, three, together. 525 00:24:22,666 --> 00:24:23,833 You got it. 526 00:24:23,966 --> 00:24:25,533 Okay, yeah. 527 00:24:25,666 --> 00:24:28,166 [speaking Hawaiian] 528 00:24:28,300 --> 00:24:30,166 [cheering] 529 00:24:31,700 --> 00:24:33,333 So great. 530 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:44,500 That's the beauty of diversity and culture 531 00:24:44,633 --> 00:24:48,366 is that it brings together food and dance 532 00:24:48,500 --> 00:24:50,600 and music and art. 533 00:24:54,366 --> 00:24:55,466 We're very fortunate out here. 534 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:57,000 No matter what ethnic culture, 535 00:24:57,133 --> 00:25:00,033 we're here one, two, three generations, 536 00:25:00,166 --> 00:25:02,000 we say we're all Hawaiians. 537 00:25:02,133 --> 00:25:03,133 We're Hawaiians at heart. 538 00:25:03,266 --> 00:25:05,466 You're here in the culture, you in the food, 539 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:06,633 you're in the aloha. 540 00:25:06,766 --> 00:25:09,800 For us, aloha is not a word, it's an action. 541 00:25:09,933 --> 00:25:13,700 We laugh together, we cry together, we sing. 542 00:25:13,833 --> 00:25:16,933 I mean, we just come together as ohana. 543 00:25:18,433 --> 00:25:22,800 [Capri] Ohana, it's a concept involving integrity, 544 00:25:22,933 --> 00:25:26,266 mutual aid, and feeling a sense of familial care 545 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:28,900 towards all members of the human family. 546 00:25:30,266 --> 00:25:32,733 It also comes directly from taro. 547 00:25:32,866 --> 00:25:35,466 With "oha" referring to the shoot of the plant 548 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:39,566 and " ana" being related to regeneration and procreation. 549 00:25:41,633 --> 00:25:44,766 It's a concept that can only be fully understood 550 00:25:44,900 --> 00:25:46,500 by visiting these islands 551 00:25:46,633 --> 00:25:49,566 and sharing a meal with those that call them home. 552 00:25:50,933 --> 00:25:53,066 But why take my word for it, 553 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:55,400 when you can come experience it for yourself. 554 00:25:56,966 --> 00:26:01,300 America The Bountiful is waiting for you and me. 555 00:26:06,300 --> 00:26:09,300 For more information visit Americathebountifulshow.com. 556 00:26:14,166 --> 00:26:15,833 [announcer] America's farmers have nourished us 557 00:26:15,966 --> 00:26:17,366 for generations, 558 00:26:17,500 --> 00:26:19,600 but today they face unprecedented challenges. 559 00:26:20,900 --> 00:26:23,066 American Farmland Trust works with farmers 560 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:25,733 to help save the land that sustains us. 561 00:26:25,866 --> 00:26:28,500 Together we can work to keep America bountiful.