Aia i ka loʻi he mauli ola: Health is found in the taro patch

Abstract

When Captain Cook first arrived in Hawaiʻi, he remarked on how fit and handsome the Hawaiian people were; they were tall, muscular, well-proportioned, with healthy, well-kept skin. Today, many Hawaiians do not resemble the same physique as their ancestors. This is attributed to factors such as foreign diseases, colonization, and loss of land, which ultimately caused a shift in the Hawaiian diet and lifestyle. As a result, Hawaiians face disproportionately high rates of obesity and chronic diseases. Increasing physical activity is one way to combat these health issues. Previous research has looked at traditional practices of heʻe nalu (surfing) and hula (dance) as a means to increase physical activity for native Hawaiians. The purpose of this study is to assess the health impacts of the foundational Hawaiian practice of cultivating taro (Colocasia esculenta) on Hawaiʻi’s young adults, ages 17-26. A physical health assessment (measuring for weight, BMI, body fat %, and blood pressure) was conducted before and after a 10-week program for college students working in the loʻi kalo (taro patch). The health assessment was paired with a survey that assessed participants’ motivation factors for working in the loʻi. Mean and standard deviation were calculated for all the variables and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to test for a significant difference between the baseline and post measurements. A total of 11 participants completed both sessions of the physical health assessment and survey. The 10-week health assessment was delayed seven weeks due to the University of Hawaiʻi’s COVID safety protocols, which could have changed any initial results. There were no significant differences in weight, BMI, body fat %, or blood pressure, however, these health factors were all maintained over the 17 weeks. Participants reported that they were more likely to encourage friends and family to participate with them in the loʻi rather than in other activities. This study has demonstrated that working in the loʻi is an effective program for health maintenance for Hawaiʻi’s young adults. The motivation to work in the loʻi is driven by the community building that takes place.