UH Manoa loi patch will be replicated on National Mall

There’s a small taro farm nestled next to the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa’s Hawaiian studies department that will be getting some international attention this summer.

Ka Papa Loʻi ʻO Kānewai will be featured on the National Mall in Washington D.C. for two weeks in June and July, as part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. About 1.5 million visitors attend the annual event where this year, they’ll be treated to an authentic taro patch right on the National Mall.

“Trying to copy what we’re doing here on a little bigger scale and then taking it to the mall is a little challenging, but I think we’re really excited to be sharing what we do here,” said Ka Papa Loʻi ʻO Kānewai Director Hiapo Cashman.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to educate and get as many people excited about what we do here in Hawaiʻi,” said graduate student Summer Maunakea.

Maunakea and other students created a four-foot by six-foot taro patch in their outdoor classroom, that they will replicate on the National Mall during the festival. To read more, click here.