HAWAI'I'S CHILDREN REDISCOVER THEMSELVES IN THEIR CULTURE
Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi - Honolulu Star-Bulletin - Sunday, January 23, 2005
Island children are discovering themselves and their roots in the taro lo'i (patches) of Kapahu Farm in Kipahulu.
"Many of the kids have never been in mud, were not raised in taro," says Tweetie Lind, a longtime resident of the rural Maui community. "A lot of them have problems; there are special-ed kids, high-risk kids, those who have to take Ritalin to keep them controlled in school. They're dealing with pressure from their parents and teachers. They need help."
Lind and her husband, John, are showing that working with taro can do that. During a morning tour with school groups that can last up to four hours, they "talk story" about taro: its importance in old Hawai'i, the legends surrounding it, varieties that are grown at Kapahu Farm, how the patches are irrigated with water from nearby Oheo Stream, and more....
"Their faces brighten; they squeal and laugh," says Lind. "Their expressions say it all: 'Wow!' It's rejuvenating; it's healing. And the next time they come, you can see big improvements; they're feeling much better about themselves."
Read The Entire Exciting Story Here -
http://starbulletin.com/2005/01/23/travel/tsutsumi.html
