In previous blogs I’ve detailed my adventures traveling around the nation to various food festivals. Right now, on the island of Maui, locals are gearing up for one of Hawaii’s most popular food festivals—the East Maui Taro Festival. (I’ve even considered petitioning the Food Network to send a crew to cover it as an episode on their show “All-American Food Festivals.”)
On the last weekend in April, the tight-knit community of Hana hosts this down home bash that attracts more than 5,000 visitors and residents each year. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the festival, which features a number of taro derived delicacies from taro burgers and taro seafood chowder to poi mochi, poi pancakes and kulolo (pudding made of baked or steamed grated taro and coconut cream). Additional food booths will offer other popular Hawaiian dishes including succulent kalua pig and turkey cooked in an imu (underground oven).
While you are dining on your taro treats you can take in live entertainment from various local hula groups, a choral group from Hana Middle School, and the popular local singing duo of Willie K and Eric Gilliom. Shoppers can work up an appetite at the craft booths which feature a wide variety of locally made items, including colorful leis, shell and beach glass jewelry, soy-based floral candles, hand carved coffee wood walking sticks, lau hala bracelets, and canvas tote bags with hand-painted tropical designs.
The entire event is designed to increase public awareness about taro and to promote the production of taro in Hawaii. For those of you unfamiliar with the root, taro is a major source of vitamins A, B and C; calcium; carbohydrates; iron; phosphorus; thiamine; and riboflavin. The taro root is pounded into the popular Hawaiian dish called poi (if you have visited Hawaii you likely have seen it featured at luaus). Poi is easily digestible and comes highly recommended by doctors as a good source of nutrition for babies.
In ancient Hawaii, natives consumed up to five pounds of poi per day. They also used the taro root for medicinal purposes. Some would place the stem on cuts to stop bleeding and on insect bites to alleviate itching. Others would drink taro juice to reduce fevers.
If you are planning a trip to Maui during April consider visiting the East Maui Taro Festival. This year it takes place at the Hana Ballpark from April 28th to 29th. Admission to the festival is free as is the entertainment (including the poi-pounding demonstrations and the tours of various taro patches).
For more information click here.
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