Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is one of the oldest known cultivated crops in the world and traditionally has been a vital food for the indigenous people of Hawaii, as well as an important part of their culture. Poi, made from the taro root, has long been a nutritious source of fiber and vitamins for the Polynesians. It grows best in flooded fields, as here in the Hanalei Valley on Kauai, and today taro plays a significant role in Hawaii's agricultural economy.