Small shopping center
We shared a burrito from this restaurant.
Beautiful Hanalei Bay
Hanalei village is located on the north shore of Kaua'i.
Small shopping center
We shared a burrito from this restaurant.
Beautiful Hanalei Bay
A word of explaination here: The Haraguchi family was the last family on Kaua'i with a working rice mill. When rice farming became unprofitable, the Haraguchi family started farming wet-land taro. Both the historic rice mill and the taro fields are located in the Hanalei valley. While the farm still maintains the rice milling artifacts, the primary crop is taro. This farm is also a santuary for a number of endangered wetland birds.
Notice the mountain peaks in the background. These are the peaks of Mount Wai'ale'ale, said to be the wettest place on earth. Mount Wai'ale'ale is a extinct shield volcano that, when active, created the island of Kaua'i.
taro fields
Lyndsey, our guide and a member of the Haraguchi family, demonstrated harvesting
a taro plant.
The taro root was baked, much like a potato. After baking, the cook mashed the root, forming it into small balls, and rolling the balls with fresh coconut. Ti leaves served as plates. The results - delish!
Mashing the taro root.
The finished taro balls presented on ti leaves.