Date of Award

August 2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Indigenous Health

First Advisor

Brynn Luger

Abstract

For Native Hawaiians, kalo, known in English as taro, is more than a traditional food; it is an ancestor. As Hāloa, kalo embodies genealogy, cultural identity, and foundational relationships with ʻāina. Today, the majority of Native Hawaiians live outside of Hawaiʻi, yet little research has explored the experiences of Native Hawaiians cultivating kalo while living in the continental United States. Understanding these experiences shows how Native Hawaiians in diaspora sustain cultural practices, identity, and relationships with Hāloa and ʻāina. This descriptive qualitative study explored the experiences and perceptions of growing and harvesting kalo among Native Hawaiian adults living in the continental United States.This study was guided by māʻawe pono, a Native Hawaiian methodology, and informed by phenomenology. Semi-structured talk story interviews were conducted with Native Hawaiian adults who had grown and harvested kalo while living in the continental United States. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify patterns of shared meaning across participants' experiences.

Four themes emerged: Theme 1: Pathways and Motivations for Cultivating Kalo; Theme 2: Kalo as Ancestor and Identity; Theme 3: Cultivating Well-Being; and Theme 4: Adapting Kalo Cultivation in Diaspora. Participants described kalo as much more than food, but as a way to (re)connect with culture and community, strengthen relationships, reinforce Native Hawaiian identity, and support cultural continuity across generations and geographically diverse environments. Participants also shared practical knowledge for growing kalo in climates unlike Hawaiʻi, where barriers became opportunities to adapt and persist.

This study adds to the small but sprouting body of literature exploring Native Hawaiian experiences and perceptions of growing and harvesting kalo away from Hawaiʻi and is the first to explore this practice across multiple states in the continental United States. The findings expand the limited literature on Native Hawaiians living in diaspora by demonstrating how cultivating kalo sustains cultural continuity, strengthens Native Hawaiian identity, and nurtures relationships with Hāloa, ʻāina, family, and community beyond Hawaiʻi. These findings provide a foundation for future research on culturally grounded practices that support Native Hawaiians living in diaspora.

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