i62 Fornandcr Collection of Haxvaiian folk-lore. 



A kukiii tree is cut down and the branches and leaves trimmed off; after a long while they 

 decompose and become soil. The taro tops are then planted which produce fine full 

 taro, and the poi good to eat. This was called pakukui. and thus it was in all places 

 where the kiikiii grew. 



In Hilo a pandanus stick was used as a spade, which [stick] was three yards in 

 length, though some were longer and some shorter. When the jjandanus spade had 

 been sho\'ed down in the ground, tw'O jerking movements forward and backward were 

 made. The hole was then deep enough, and the seed taro top thrown in,^ and in time 

 it grew and filled the hole. The taro was full and the poi was good to the taste. 



The poi from the dry taro, if hard, was good to the taste when well pounded, but 

 if soggy, or lumpy, the poi would not be good eating. Dry taro has its season in the 

 year. In summer the taro would be full and hard and the poi would be good. In 

 winter taro grew water-soaked, and could not be properly pounded into poi. Therefore 

 dry taro was a one-sided benefit in the year. 



OF THE WET PLANTING. 



Throw up all the soil, that is, for the banks of the taro patch. Then the water 

 is let in, and the dirt beaten with coconut branches to harden it up so that the water could 

 not leak out. After breaking ground'" water is let in, and when the dirt is water- 

 soaked it is trampled tf) make a good and soft mixture. The seed taro tops are planted 

 singly in rows, not in hills. W^hen the seed taro top has sprouted, then is the time for 

 weeding, and the first leaves are plucked; these are called lait pai. When the taro is full 

 grown it is pulled up, and in pulling, both the mother and adjoining little ones are in- 

 cluded. When all the taro crop is gathered water remains. While the water remains 

 thus, it ( the taro patch ) is termed empty. It is again planted with hills of from four to 

 ten seed taro tops to the hill. The oka remnants in the taro patch which had not fully 

 developed and which were not taken are called palili. 



The growth and fullness [of the taro] in all wet ])lantings are not the same, 

 the taro is very flourishing and healthy in some places, as in Kapalama, where the taro 

 l)atch is soft. Some ]:)laces are unfruitful, the plants withering, while in some places de- 

 velopment is fine. Poi from wet planting is palatable if the taro is good, but tasteless 

 if eaten immediately [after pounding]. Men and women who live in wet lands are dark- 

 skinned on account of the cold food. 



Taro has various names in all the wet lands. In Hawaii taro is taro and oka is 

 olia. In Oahu oka is both taro and oka. In Kauai taro and oka are both called poc. 



OF THE POTATO. 



Weed out the grass throughout the field ; pluck the potato sprigs and leave them 

 till the buds develo]), then plant. When the leaves become vigorous, dig around the 

 plant hills, and when the leaves have grown long then twist [them]. As the planted 

 sprigs commence to bear, the soil is thrown on the hill. The first ])otatoes gathered from 



'This Hilo method of taro culture would be termed '"Pulverizing the ground in lieu of plowing and har- 



oliiki. rowing. 



