February 21, 2008, The Maui News
...Other discussions were on a taro-defense resolution introduced by Council Member Bill Medeiros, who holds the Hana residency seat. At least a dozen Native Hawaiian taro or kalo farmers spoke passionately about how preserving taro unadulterated is a direct reflection on Hawaiians’ connection to the land and their culture. Molokai-based Hawaiian rights advocate Walter Ritte spoke in favor of the taro bill. He said it was the University of Hawaii researchers who decided on their own a few years ago to modify traditional Hawaiian varieties of taro by adding rice gene strains.
The reports of the research efforts on standard Hawaiian varieties of taro provoked protests at the UH-Manoa campus.
“This issue is bringing Hawaiians together,” said Ritte.
While Hawaiian taro proponents are planning major protests, they also want to make sure that they are careful not to hurt the state’s burgeoning biotechnology industry, he said.
Wayne Chun spoke to council members with his baby hanging from his chest.
“I am here for my kupuna and the keiki,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with the taro; we’ve been eating it for years.”
Penny Levin, a conservation planner and taro grower on Maui, said ...
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