HILO, Hawaii – The Waipi’o Valley Kalo Festival, set for June 4, 2016 at the Honoka`a Park gymnasium complex, received the support of the Hawaii County Council during a February 3 meeting held in Hilo.

Hamakua Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter gave $5,000 from her contingency relief account to the Department of Parks and Recreation to assist with the event. Mahealani Maikui of the Ha Ola O Waipi’o Valley organization testified in support of the appropriation via videoconference (video above).

Here is the language of Resolution 377 16:

A RESOLUTION TRANSFERRING/APPROPRIATING AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITING SAME TO A DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT FOR THE WAIPI`O KALO FESTIVAL.

WHEREAS, the Department of Parks and Recreation, Culture and Education Division, has identified the need for funds to assist with financing the Waipi` o Kalo Festival to be held on June 4, 2016, at the Honoka`a Park gymnasium complex; and

WHEREAS, this event will honor multi-generational kalo farmers, musicians, cultural practitioners, families with genealogical ties, and those who perpetuate Hawaiian culture in Waipi` o Valley; and

WHEREAS, festivities will include learning about the many varieties and nutrition of kalo, how to ku`i kalo and the different farming styles, and how to weave lau hala and lau niu; and

WHEREAS, the public will also learn through mo`olelo (stories) of how sacred Waipi`o Valley is to Hawai`i and the importance taro farming holds within our Hawaiian culture and history; and

WHEREAS, informational booths covering topics such as promoting healthy soil, agroforestry, kalo varieties, importance of water, and health benefits of kalo may encourage participants to reconnect with the `aina and empower them to grow their own kalo for their ohana; and

WHEREAS, Contingency Relief funds from Council District 1 will be appropriated to the Department of Parks and Recreation for entertainment, advertising, and supply expenses associated with the festival; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the following amount is hereby transferred/appropriated as set forth below: