November 22, 2008
Waipi'o Valley
Jim and Gretchen Cain and 'ohana hosted the Taro Patch Olympics, and the celebration of their son Ua's passage into teenagerhood.
The games are a contemporary version of the traditional Makahiki games, each event has a basis in day to day tasks that are part of life in the lo'i, the practice of kalo farming.
The competition was stiff. The games opened with a relay race around the lo'i and included the sack race, the wheelbarrow race and Waipi'o on horseback. The final event, and the one most highly anticipated, was taro patch (mud) wrestling.
The 2008 Grand Champion was Coco Kai. John John relinquished the title taking second place this year, while Jared came in a very respectable third place.
Malama Pono
© Sarah Anderson Photography
