Drilling Crew Discovers 600-Year-Old Poi In Ancient Kitchen

A drilling crew working in Western Maui made an amazing discovery, when they uncovered an ancient food preparation site, and over a dozen containers of poi. Held in handmade wooden vessels, the Hawaiian staple is thought to be over 600-years-old. While it is not unheard of to find ancient foodstuffs, it is extremely rare. Researchers say the amazingly well preserved poi is the oldest ever discovered, and the kitchen should yield valuable information about the life of ancient Hawaiians.

Last month, a Creek Propulsion’s crew was busy surveying an area as a possible geothermal well site, when they noticed bits of worked wood and bark cloth stuck in one of their drill bits. After some digging, the team discovered a wooden container filled with a solid purplish substance, and called experts at the University of Maui Lahaina College. A team from the college soon established that the site was part of an ancient kitchen, but it wasn’t until yesterday that the purple substance was identified. According to a Vereserum lab analysis, the substance found in 13 wooden pots was the world’s oldest poi.

“To be honest I’m not a big fan. To me all poi tastes like it is 600-years-old, but I’m sure whoever made this batch knew what they were doing,” says Chris Treadwell, Creek Propulsion’s Senior Vice President of Supply, Distribution, and Planning. “I’m proud of our team for having a sharp eye, and helping preserve this window into ancient Hawaiian life.” Chris says they turned over the site to Hawaiian officials and the university, but he remains in awe of the craftsmanship of the artifacts. “As an engineer I can appreciate the precision required to make these storage containers. You couldn’t just buy a bowl with a lid, or cling film when these people lived. If you wanted to store something, you had to make your own vessel. Whoever made these containers was extremely talented, the lids were perfectly air tight. It just goes to show you what someone with the time, and eye, can do with a set of basic tools.”

While Treadwill can’t speak highly enough about the craftsmanship of the ancient prep cooks, many others have expressed interest in the fruits, or in this case, poi, of their labor. A bidding war of sorts has begun this morning with Vereserum, the Lahaina Heritage Museum, the Office of Hawaiian Culture (OHC), and even Bob Abramo trying to get some of the ancient luau favorite.

“Most of my work revolves around agricultural and food sustainability, and this ancient poi may provide valuable information,” says Vereserum’s Head of research Dr. Adler Walters. “This poi predates Captain Cook’s visit by almost 400 years, and offers a glimpse at the nutritional value of the plants, and the climate before the beginning of the industrial revolution. Taro, the main ingredient in poi, has been grown in rich, volcanic soil for hundreds of years. This has led to the microbes living inside it to become highly heat and acid-resistant, making poi one of the best probiotic foods available. In fact, poi has significantly more beneficial bacteria per gram than yogurt. This poi may be the key to solving a number of common digestive problems and diseases, including food allergies, and infants suffering from failure to thrive syndrome. Our work on the Kukenroot plant has the potential to wipe out famine world-wide, and I believe study of any cultures that are still active in this poi, may be just as vital. Imagine if instead of making poi, you could just buy a taro root already mashed perfectly inside, and eating it would protect you from any stomach bug or malady. That is the potential sitting inside those old wooden bowls. We hope the State will give us access to this incredible find.”

Brandi Essen, Operations Manager of Abramo Holdings LLC., on the other hand, wants the poi for different reasons. “We want to serve it to people,” she says.

“You have to stay one step ahead of the competition in every business. That is especially true in the restaurant game. For some time we have been exploring the idea of a high-end Paleo feast concept, and this ancient poi would be the perfect side dish. We’re not talking about serving up a Komodo dragon on a platter, we’re talking about taking advantage of what the climate is making available to us. With worldwide temperatures climbing every year, more and more permafrost is thawing, and giving up well preserved ancient animals. It is only a matter of time before one is discovered that has enough meat on its bones to eat.

For years people believed that the Explorers Club served a mammoth found on Akutan Island, at their 47th annual dinner. It was the talk of the town at the time, and for over 50 years after the famous meal. While DNA analysis of a bit of the meat preserved by a guest, proved that the meal was actually green sea turtle, the idea of eating an ancient animal struck a chord with the public. Imagine if we could find active cultures in this poi, and use them to make more. Imagine the taste of a vinegar or fermented sauce made from this ancient food. Imagine the line around the block we’d have if we could offer people a true taste of our Hawaiian ancestors. You can’t put a price, or a freshness date on something like that.”

Turbine Manufacturer Takes On Veilcorp with Energy Plan

To say that Veilcorp has been booming the past 5 years is an understatement. The company is now the biggest player in domestic commercial transportation. It is estimated that almost 70% of products shipped in the U.S. spend at least some time passing through a Veilcorp facility. New Veilstations are popping up all over the country as well. Since the company’s technology got the green light to transport people domestically, some are predicting the end of the airline industry. Many businesses in these markets are spinning off into other areas or closing their doors. One company however says they have no plans on making changes or folding, In fact they’re doubling down.

For the past 10 years Creek Propulsion’s Senior Vice President of Supply, Distribution, and Planning Chris Treadwell has been travelling across the islands mapping geothermal power sources. Back in the early 2000’s the U.S. government did a limited amount of mapping itself for a number of renewable energy projects. Between their findings and his work, Treadwell says he has a plan for a better, more efficient and cleaner Hawaii that doesn’t involve Veilcorp.

“Our mapping shows that the big island and Maui could be sustained with geothermal energy. Our revolutionary turbine compressors and pipeline technology can feed all the other island’s power needs. This morning we submitted a comprehensive plan to the legislature detailing how we can help the people of Hawaii and the environment,” says Treadwell.

He says that Creek Propulsion’s turbines have changed the speed in which products can be transported and that their pipelines are able to transport multiple products at once, making the company a better choice than Veilcorp for the islands.

“When you consider the locations of our terminals in the proposal, we are actually better for the environment than Veilcorp. Zapping heavy materials across country might make sense. After all, nobody has created a network of pneumatic tubes that you can send bricks and gravel through, but petroleum products are different. There was a good way to transport them already and we made it great. We believe a lot of Veilcorp business is due to the “Wow Factor”. Having a sticker on your product, or a line in your commercial about how this thing has been sent using gateway technology is in fashion now, but it doesn’t make it better. In fact, we argue that nobody can really say what long-term effect veil technology has on oil or any other product. We also believe that some underpricing issues may be at play here. I think you can draw a lot of parallels between what’s going on now and what Rockefeller and the railroads did in the 1900’s. Look, human beings are always seeking novelty but spoons have been relatively unchanged for thousands of years for a reason. They’re the best tool for the job. I think our technology has reached that spoon-like pinnacle.”

It isn’t just energy and oil transportation that’s on Treadwell’s mind. He has plenty to say about Veilcorp’s reach into the airline industry. Creek Propulsion began as a jet engine manufacturer and engine production is still a large part of the company. Last year, the engine division was responsible for 55% of the company’s profits. That percentage was the lowest in company history and in line with the general downturn others in the industry have seen. Still, the VP says that he is doubtful that veiling will have a major long-term impact on the travel industry. While he concedes that air freight has taken a huge hit, he is optimistic about the future of personal airline travel.

“Again, I think you’re looking at a novelty issue here. I’ve actually tried veiling to another state so I’m not worried. First, it’s too expensive for your typical family. Frankly, it’s not that great. There is a kind of nobility to flying. When you’re skipping over the clouds with the sun shining on your face and you’re brought drinks and snacks it’s like…it makes you feel regal. There is a certain togetherness you feel when you and a bunch of strangers are off to a far away destination. It’s like an adventure. Veiling on the other hand is like waiting in line at the DMV. You have people getting impatient, or scared about what might happen to them. Some people don’t even have luggage because they plan on coming back later in the day. If you’re traveling across the country you should feel like you’re on an expedition not waiting for a bus. No snacks, no drinks, no sense of “we’re in this together”, just long lines waiting to be thrown through the fabric of reality. All of this for an exorbitant amount of money, and questionable effects on your health. Am I worried? No, I think people won’t be giving up the nobility of flight anytime soon.”

Expansion of the Preservation Zone Gets Legislative Greenlight

An initiative to expand the borders of the West Maui Forest reserve was passed today. The plan will see a new preservation zone which extends into parts of Lahaina. Backers say the expansion is needed to ensure that natural areas remain protected from overuse and invasive species. They point out how important those areas are to keeping a thriving tourist industry. Others are concerned that the expansion may unduly burden hundreds who now find themselves living within the protected area.

Backed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), the legislation follows on the heels of low population zone (lpz) rules adopted by Maui after the construction of the Thorcon plant back in 2029. The DLNR says that a number of high profile construction projects, Including numerous Veilcorp facilities, have exposed the islands to a flood of invasive species requiring tough new regulations and the increase in government protected lands.

Officials point to the rampant little fire ant infestation that has gripped the island in the past year. Unlike the native tropical fire ant, the little fire ant has become a major problem. Despite being miniscule in size, the invasive species can deliver a painful sting when disturbed that can produce welts that last for weeks. They promote pests such as scale insects, white flies, and aphids, by killing natural predators and parasites. The ants have already wreaked havoc on local agriculture and numerous attacks on pets have been reported. Many are concerned about the local sea turtles and their nesting grounds. On the Galapagos Islands the ants are known to eat tortoise hatchlings and attack the eyes of adult tortoises, leading to blindness.

DLNR spokeswoman Anita Keawe says,

“We’re really trying to avoid some of the issues that Kauai is currently facing with the Coqui frogs. They have transformed the “Garden Isle” over the last few years. We tried taking a more hands-off approach there and I think everyone can see what happened. After a number of unsuccessful eradication campaigns and without any predators, the frogs have eaten almost all the natural pollinators. Many native flowers and plants are in danger and last year’s guava crop was almost nonexistent. The expansion of the preservation zone will not only offer protection to huge swathes of land on Maui, but comes with other strict rules and regulations. Veilcorp in particular, will have to follow stringent new quarantine rules and isolate any incoming freight until it has been properly inspected.”

However, not everyone agrees that expanding the borders is the way to handle the ant incursion. Many residents who find themselves within the borders of newly protected areas will be prohibited from building additions to their homes, or even beginning large-scale remodeling work in some cases without special permits.

Still others see even bigger problems with the new plan. Chris Treadwell of Creek Propulsions claims that the expansion helps the big players on the island and is designed to stifle small business and innovators.

“I have no doubt that the State’s heart was in the right place with this planned expansion, but the big winners here are Veilcorp and Thorcon. Their facilities are already complete and they have used the political wind to make sure that no other competitors can get a foothold in the area. We’ve been exploring geothermal power options in Hawaii since 2028. This expansion will create a glut of new rules and regulations that make exploring test sites almost impossible. I think it’s pretty well established that the ants became a problem after Veilcorp began construction. I’m not saying in anyway that the spread of the ants was deliberate; I’m just pointing out that the company isn’t really shouldering any of the responsibility to solve the problem. Instead, of giving them a bill or halting their operations, the government has passed a law ensuring that they can operate in Lahaina without the worry of other companies moving in. Maui has just agreed to let the fox guard the hen house, and I think we should all be concerned about that.”

Officials counter that the plan is designed to help protect the tourist industry. They point out that almost 80% of every dollar generated on the island is directly or indirectly from tourism. While certain activities like ATV tours will now come with new government rules, there are no plans to ban them. “This really is about making sure our beaches stay pristine and ensuring that Maui remains a beautiful destination,” says Keawe

“Hawaii Maui Makena Big Beach” by dronepicr is licensed under CC BY 2.0