In the heart of Portland, Oregon, a vibrant taro garden is helping displaced Native Hawaiians reconnect with their culture—one leaf at a time. Known as kalo in Hawaiian, taro is more than just a crop; it’s a spiritual ancestor in Hawaiian mythology and a cornerstone of traditional diets. The project began with a humble community garden in 2021 and has blossomed into a thriving symbol of resilience, identity, and food sovereignty. With support from the Oregon Food Bank and Pacific Climate Warriors, the garden now yields hundreds of pounds of kalo leaves and feeds families through free community distributions.
The project is about much more than nutrition. Weekly volunteer days have turned the garden into a gathering space where cultural education, healing, and belonging take root. For many Pacific Islanders in Oregon—relocated by the high cost of living in Hawaiʻi—the chance to grow kalo again is deeply emotional. Volunteers come from all walks of life, including many with strong ancestral ties to the islands. Even through Oregon’s cold winters, the taro grows, nourished by shared purpose and ancestral memory. The group is also launching clinical trials to explore how traditional foods impact health, aiming to show that reconnecting with culture can heal body and spirit alike.