Kalo

This mural at the Waimanalo Health Center was created to show the different parts of the Kalo (taro) plant. Kalo is one of the most important plants in Hawaiʻi as it is considered our older brother. Hāloanakalaukapalili is the name of the first son of Hoʻohōkūkalani and Wākea. He was stillborn and buried, from his body grew kalo. The second child of Hoʻohōkūkalani and Wākea was named Hāloa, after his older brother. Hāloa becomes the first human and shows us how we as humans should care for the land and kalo, because we are family. Kalo is also the first food that babies eat and has many medicinal properties.

 

The part of the mural showing the anatomy of the kalo was inspired by Leonardo Da Vinciʻs anatomical drawings. Merging the knowledge of our ancestors with western sciences represents the great knowledge of our people, not only were we farmers and fisherman, but also scientists and engineers.