4th Graders at Maui Prep Dig Into Hawaiian Culture and Science

The students are exploring the life cycle in their science unit while simultaneously delving into Hawaiian culture and mythology in their social studies lessons.

A central focus of this unit is taro, or kalo, a staple food source for Native Hawaiians. As a non-indigenous plant, taro holds significant cultural importance as it was brought to the islands by Polynesian settlers who carried the plant with them in their voyaging canoes. In their hands-on lessons, each student has planted their own kalo shoot, which they will tend to, monitoring its growth, and making measurements and observations throughout its life cycle.

To deepen the students' understanding, Kumu Wilmont Kahaiali'i joined the class to share his knowledge. He taught them about the mala (garden) and the importance of staple foods in Hawaii. Kumu Kahaiali'i performed a traditional oli (chant) to bless the garden and invite growth. He will also guide the students in composing their own oli to encourage the growth of the kalo, not just in their school garden, but worldwide.