Varieties of Kalo

Mana

• The Mana variety typically grows at higher elevations in upland areas of Hawaii. This style of kalo growing takes place on the slopes of hills and mountains, in rain-fed fields. Mana kalo includes a few different plants, such as Mana Opelu -- used as bait for catching opelu fish -- and Mana KeoKeo, which produces good harvests even under adverse growing conditions.

Piko

• This variety prefers wetland conditions, which means that growing the kalo takes place at lower elevations in areas next to streams and other bodies of water, so the growing areas remain constantly flooded. Different types of Piko kalo include Piko Lehua-apei, used in making red Hawaiian poi; Piko Uaua, which can also flourish in upland areas; and Piko Kea, which produces high-quality poi. Hawaiians make poi by pounding the cooked root of kalo with water to produce a thick liquid, traditionally eaten with the fingers.

Kai

• The Kai variety grows best in wetland conditions and includes three different plant types. Kai Uliuli, Kai Ala and Kai Kea all make poi of excellent quality. The poi made from Kai Kea plants in particular is highly prized.

Lauloa

• The Lauloa, another of the upland varieties, is cultivated fairly extensively through the islands. Types include Lauloa Uliuli, Lauloa Keokeo and Lauloa Palakea-ula. This variety is used primarily as table taro, which involves cooking the root of the plant and serving it in chunks and slices.

Eleele

• The Eleele variety has two main plants, Eleele Makoko and Eleele Naioea, which prefer upland growing conditions. These produce poi of good quality, with that of Eleele Naioea highly prized.

Ulaula

• The three main plants of the Ulaula variety have the names Kumu, Poni and Moano. These typically prefer upland growing conditions, although the Kumu plant -- considered one of the more beautiful kalo plants, with a vivid red stalk and leaf veins -- can also grow in wetlands.

Manini

• The Manini variety has a use as table taro, as well as making reasonable quality poi. The different plants of this variety, including Manini-owali and Manini Kea, typically grow well under both upland and wetland conditions.

Lehua

• The plants of the Lehua variety make very good quality Poi, with Lehua Maoli making the widely-advertised Lehua red poi. Lehua plants grow best in upland regions, although some can also flourish in wetland conditions.

Niue

• The upland-grown Niue variety includes two plants, Niue-uliuli and Niue-ulaula. These have a limited growing range in Hawaii, with the plant typically used as table taro.