farming

In the shadow of Ka‘ala mountain on the Wai‘anae coast of O‘ahu, a unique community project is creating a unique educational curriculum. Gigi Cocquio, a native of Italy, has set up a community farm in Mākaha and works with the children of Mākaha Elementary School to discover the value of mālama ‘āina, caring for the land that feeds them.

Taro grower and Native Hawaiian practitioner Jerry Konanui works to propagate and save from extinction the numerous varieties of kalo (taro), a staple of the Hawaiian diet. Jerry’s mission is also to protect kalo, revered as the elder sibling (Hāloa) of the Hawaiian people, from the risks of genetic engineering.

Taro grower and Native Hawaiian practitioner Jerry Konanui works to propagate and save from extinction the numerous varieties of kalo (taro), a staple of the Hawaiian diet. Jerry’s mission is also to protect kalo, revered as the elder sibling (Hāloa) of the Hawaiian people, from the risks of genetic engineering.

Beginning with an overview of how to document taro varieties, Jerry Konanui documents plant descriptors for nine varieties of taro, harvested at the Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Kona, Hawai‘i island. Along with the documentation, Jerry shares a wealth of cultural knowledge of these varieties passed down to him through family. His goal is to scientifically document as many of the Hawaiian taro varieties as possible for reference by future generations of taro growers.

This video documents the battle over the water in Waiāhole Ditch on the island of O‘ahu, where taro farmers and long-time residents seek to reclaim the natural stream waters that were taken in the early 1900’s by sugar plantations.

The battle over the water in Waiāhole Ditch on the island of O‘ahu, where taro farmers and long-time residents seek to reclaim the natural stream waters that were taken in the early 1900’s by sugar plantations.

Fisherman Kaiana Ahmad takes us out on an aku (tuna) boat for a day of deep-sea fishing and Keoki Fukumitsu shares his life as a taro grower in Hakipu‘u on the island of O‘ahu.

Hawai‘i farmers, teachers, legal and medical experts and community activists share their perspectives on GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms), the genetic engineering of crops and the patenting of life forms.

Hawai‘i farmers, teachers, legal and medical experts and community activists share their perspectives on GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms), the genetic engineering of crops and the patenting of life forms.

This program explores the issues surrounding the allocation of water that flows in the Waiāhole Ditch on the island of O‘ahu. The title comes from an old saying referring to the stubbornness of the people of Waiāhole valley. This program documents their determination to regain the water that was taken from windward streams in the early 1900’s to irrigate sugar plantations on the drier leeward side.

Kalo Pa‘a o Waiāhole – Hard Taro of Waiāhole explores the issues surrounding the allocation of water that flows in the Waiāhole Ditch on the island of O‘ahu. The title comes from an old saying referring to the stubbornness of the people of Waiāhole valley.

Residents of the Wai‘anae coast community on O‘ahu react to the proposed Ko ‘Olina resort development and predict its potential impact on their land, water resources, ocean fisheries and rural lifestyle.

Charles Kupa escorts Marion Kelly on a tour of Ka Papa Lo‘i ‘o Kānewai, the kalo (taro) gardens on the grounds of the Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

at Ka Papa Lo‘i ‘o Kānewai

Charles Kupa escorts Marion Kelly on a tour of Ka Papa Lo‘i ‘o Kānewai, the kalo (taro) gardens on the grounds of the Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Intermediate school students explore various aspects of the 1982 incident when unlawful levels of the pesticide heptachlor were found in Hawai‘i commercial milk supplies.