The Taro Security and Purity Task Force is seeking applicants to fill seats representing Kauai and Hawaii Island on this statewide panel working collaboratively for the common goal of helping kalo (taro) to thrive once again across the Hawaiian Islands chain.
Kalo, a crop plant sacred to Native Hawaiians, has been heavily impacted by pests and diseases, flooding, drought, lack of stream water, land, and a new generation of growers, said spokeswoman Hi‘ilani Shibata.
Since 2010, the aim of the task force has been to bring together taro stakeholder groups and potential partners, including taro farmers, Native Hawaiians, agencies and scientists, to implement the recommendations of its 2010 Report to the State Legislature. Visit www.oha.org.
The task force includes two farmers apiece from Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai and the Big Island, one taro farmer from Lanai, as well as one representative from OHA, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the state Department of Agriculture, the University of Hawaii, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Onipa‘a Na Hui Kalo, a statewide organization of taro farmers, and a representative for the taro collections and botanical gardens.
One seat is open for Kauai and two seats for Hawaii Island. Interested applicants must be actively growing taro on the island they seek to represent; have a minimum of three years experience in taro production, and be able to participate in task force activities, including traveling to other islands to attend regular meetings and sharing information throughout the taro farming communities of their island. The task force will select the best qualified applicants to serve.
Contact Shibata at 808-371-0452 or email hiilanishibata@gmail.com. Visit http://www.tarotaskforceHI.blogspot.com.
