Canoe plants focus of program

Hands on Hawaiian cultural classes will be offered free to the public at the new cultural park at Apuakehau in Lahaina next to the library.

Beginning Saturday and continuing through December on the first and third Saturday of each month, participants will learn about canoe plants with a focus on kalo. The workshops will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All supplies will be provided at no charge. Workshops are limited to seven participants and are open to anyone 10 years of age and older. Masks are required and social distancing will be enforced.

Canoe plants refer to the many useful plants that the Polynesians first brought to Hawaii on their voyaging canoes. During this workshop series, the plants to be used include niu (coconut), ulu (breadfruit), and ipu (gourd). Kalo (taro) education will be presented at every workshop and will include tasting, harvesting, pounding, planting in addition to kalo history and significance of kalo in Hawaiian culture.

Kalapana Kollars, Hawaiian cultural director at Lahaina Restoration Foundation, will conduct the workshops. James Simpliciano, a local farmer, will focus on all aspects of kalo.

The schedule of classes: ≤ Saturday — Kalo workshop.

≤ Nov. 7 — Cordage and kalo.

≤ Nov. 21 — Niu and kalo. ≤ Dec. 5 — Ulu and kalo. ≤ Dec. 19 — Ipu and kalo. Participants must register in advance at Lahaina Restoration on Facebook.

This free workshop series is funded by the Maui County Strong Fund at of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation through funds granted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and coordinated by Lahaina Restoration Foundation. For further information, email events@lahainarestoration.org.