Ke Alahou, Volume I, Number 1, 1 Nowemapa 1979 — Home Gardening TARO by Kamahiai Anekona Olomana [ARTICLE]

Home Gardening

TARO

by Kamahiai Anekona Olomana

! It is time more is done to prevent the loss of -taro cultivation in Hawaii. fortunately. the University of Hawaii's Lyon Arborētum is doing . 'something about it. They have sixty Hawaiian f v4rieties of*taro as well ās over sixty varieties from the other Paeific Islands. The Lyon Taro Collection was prijmarily startēd m order to preserve the remaining. varieties of Hawaiian taro from extinction. This collection contains only one row of eaeh . variety and is cared for by an arb.oretum rētiree with the assistance of vplunteers, who are interested in helplng the Arboretum while learning about taro varieties and cultivation. The collection start o ed back in the 1920's when the Agricultural i Station at Pensacola Street, where Robert Louis Stevenson Junior High School and other schools ai*e located now. When this Agricultural Stat!on was discontinued the taro collection was sent to the Kona Experinient Station on the Big Island, When this station was |bandoned the taro eolleetion was mōved (o the Lyon Arboretum at their request. It has been increased through the efforts of Dr. Douglas Yen of ihe Bernice Pauahi Bishop Mijseum and by various plant collectors here in Hawaii and throughout the Pacific. Besides preserv r ing the varieties of taro, the Lypn Arboretum Taro Collection has been used for bteeding fievv improved varieties whieh may be higher in resistance to insects and diseases, ! and also for better qualities as well as higher yields. What is needed is more volunteers and interested persons to kokua with the maintenance and planting of lhfs collectidn. Those who are interested in helping shou!d eall the Lyon Arboretum at 988-3177 or 'the Lyon Arboretum Association at 988 7378. " The next few issues we hope to discuss and preseht the various types of taro variet!es and the!rusBge.