The Meaning of Food Kalo

The Meaning of Food is a PBS production (2005) which presents an exploration of culture through food. What we consume, how we acquire it, who prepares it, who’s at the table, and who eats first is a form of communication that is rich with meaning. Across much of American regional food has been replaced by generic modern cuisine. We can eat pretty much the same dishes in rural Washington State as we can in New York City. But some Americans fight this trend struggling to hold onto certain foods and way of life. Today, some cultures are caught in a battle of values with the outside world. For other cultural groups, the fight is more subtle and takes on a pervasive seductive enemy, the modern American Lifestyle. This episode discusses the importance of kalo (Colocasia esculanta) in Hawaiian culture, its historical significance and modern uses.

Video Options (11 min)

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Readings

Abbott, I.A. 1992. La'au Hawai'i: Traditional Hawaiian Uses Of Plants. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. Pages 23-32.

Balick, M. & P.Cox. 1996. Plants, People, and Culture: The Science of Ethnobotany. Scientific American, New York. Pages 63-98.

Production Credits

Used with permission of: Public Broadcasting Corporation