This is one of my favorite times of year. Now that my children are grown, it’s one of the few times we are all together. For Christmas Eve, we had oysters and asparagus for dinner, and then played some games. We all share a competitive trait, so game nights are really fun. Last night did not disappoint. Santa bought the family “Speak Out” for Christmas. It’s a silly game where you put this mouthpiece in your mouth that prevents your mouth from closing, and then your partner has to guess what you’re trying to say. I haven’t laughed that hard I think ever.
Tonight, we decided to forego the traditional turkey dinner, and have a modified Hawaiian one. On the menu:
Corned beef luau, squid and salmon luau, lomi salmon, poi, and for dessert, avocado/lime pie.
The luau leaves were picked last night. For those who don’t know, luau leaves are the leaves of the taro plant. You have to cook them really long because they contain oxalic acid. If you don’t cook them well, your mouth because really itchy and uncomfortable. No worries here, we slow cooked them for 10 hours.
This morning, my husband and daughter picked some taro to make poi out of the corms. After picking the taro, you chop off the leaves, and keep the stem for replanting.
The corms are on the right, they will be used to make the poi. The stems on the left will be replanted. Not only did we replant these, but we also planted some uwahiapele taro. This taro has a really pretty leaf. 
We have a number of lo’i where we grow the taro. We have both wetland taro and dry land taro. Some are better for poi, while others are known for their leaves.
We have had quite a bit of rain the last few weeks. It was nice to get a little reprieve today, and a pretty rainbow to boot.
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