Final

Poi was one of a Hawaiian’s main dish for anytime off the day. In the ancient times, a Hawaiian ate 8 pounds of poi a day. Poi was an ideal food because poi never spoils and taro doesn’t grow from seeds. So if you lived on an island you have an unlimited amount of food.

Poi is very special in my family. We only eat during special events like at parties and family gatherings. The last time I had poi was at my uncle’s funeral, which was two months ago. We usually buy poi at the market but the traditional way is better. The poi you buy at the market is processed but the traditional way involves a pohaku (rock) and a kuiai (the board that is used for pounding poi). I like the traditional way is better because not that much people still pound poi. Not only do I like poi because of the history behind it but also because of the taste. I like sweet poi. I don’t know the name of the type of taro that it comes from but the taste is delicious.

            The people that make poi won’t live forever, meaning the tradition of poi making could one day disappear.  Today’s generation of Hawaiians care more about the new things and less about the things that matter most. But why doesn’t it matter? “ It matters because poi is an ancient tradition” is what my friend Uhi said. Before there were over 50 different versions of taro and now there are only 12. That means, already some of the history is gone. This is why poi is special to me because maybe one day in the future this tradition could be lost.