Hawaiian Kalo Foods

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Food production has been a substantial problem in society, and with the world’s population constantly expanding; the demand for food begins to escalate as well. In anticipation to solving this advancing concern, scientists have generated a helpful yet harmful man made activity called GMO (genetically modified organisms). GMOs obtain the ability to not only make growing crops easy, but GMOs also allow crops to grow rapidly. In Hawaii, many crops have been genetically modified, including corn and papaya, but one sacred crop, the Hawaiian kalo (taro), has brought up a skyrocketing controversy as to whether or not this scared crop should be genetically modified. Although many scientists agree on genetically modifying taro, Hawaiians must protect …show more content…

Diseases that have devastated many kalo crops have already infected some parts of the south pacific. Stephanie Whalen from the Hawaii Agricultural Research Center voices, "We're at great risk to have this disease come to Hawaii, researchers feel there is no natural resistance to this particular problem and so possibly you could use genetic engineering to help, if this problem ever comes here" (qtd. in Mari 01). These scientists and researchers believe that if the Hawaiians really want to protect their sacred plant then they need to allow them to genetically modify …show more content…

According to one legend about creation, sexual union between the god- beings Wäkea (male) and Papa (female) first formed the islands. Their union produced a child named Häloanaka, who did not survive and was buried. From the child’s body grew the first kalo plant. The next child, named Häloa, became the first human to live in the islands, and from him the Hawaiian people descended. (02). Since the kalo plant was believed to have arisen from the prior born child, many Hawaiians thought of kalo to be even greater than man. In addition to the kalo plant’s reputation of creation, the kalo plant also had a relation to the concept of family. Cho also shares, “The Hawaiian concept of family, ‘ohana, is derived from the word ‘ohä, the axillary shoots of kalo that sprout from the main corm, the makua” (02). Hawaiians are all about traditions and by genetically modifying kalo, scientists and researchers are not only hurting the kalo plant, but also potentially endangering beliefs the kalo plant

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