What is Poi? Everything You Need to Know About Hawaiian Poi

Native Hawaiians have a lot of things that make them special, but the fact that poi is a key ingredient in their food shows how important it is to their history and religion. Legend says that Haloa, the first Hawaiian, came to them in the form of the kalo, or taro plant, because he was born from the sky and the earth.

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Hawaiian legends

After making the paradise islands of Hawaii and giving birth to the stars and heavens, the sky and the earth had another child: Haloa. They thought he was stillborn and were sad about losing their child, so they wrapped him in cloth and buried him in the ground. Haloa started to grow stems and beautiful leaves in the shape of a heart at this point. He was then known as the first Hawaiian and the ancestor of everyone in the islands.
Hawaiian religion from the past is still a big part of the food culture today. Hawaiians turn taro into poi and eat it with every meal to honor Haloa and keep his spirit alive. This keeps Haloa a part of their everyday lives.

What is Poi? Everything You Need to Know About Hawaiian Poi — Colocasia plant leaf | © Rameshng / WikiCommons

Hawaiian Poi – How they make it

The ku’i, or way to make poi, hasn’t changed much since it was first made. Traditionally, the taro root is cooked very slowly and for a long time in an imu pit. This way of cooking is used to break down all of the fibers in the root. People still use stone tools to mix cooked poi with water and pound it into a thin or thick paste, depending on their taste. When poi is new, it tastes sweet and is often eaten as a dessert. After some time, the poi turns a little bit sour and goes well with savory foods.

Modern-day role

Poi is unique to Hawaii and can’t be found anywhere else in the world. This makes it a very important part of the culture of the people who live there and helps them keep it alive. Even though many of the old taro fields are now good places to build houses, the community still works hard to keep this tradition alive. Those who still pound poi have a stronger link to their ancestors. To make the paste, you have to get rid of anything that could fall in by accident. In a way, this ties them to the people who made poi hundreds of years ago.

Poi is a food that doesn’t taste or feel like anything you’d find in the West. Because of this, it has gotten the reputation of being a mystery food that only brave travelers will try. But once you get used to the unusual taste of this very traditional dish, you’ll be able to enjoy all the health benefits it has to offer.

Topic: What is Poi? Everything You Need to Know About Hawaiian Poi

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