Maria Orr

 

President of the Board 

Maui East Taro Festival, Inc.

 

Maria “Kaimi” Orr is the president of the East Maui Taro Festival, Inc. and owner/manager of Kaimipono Consulting Services LLC.  In 1992, while living in Hana, Maui she called a meeting to see if anyone was interested in starting a taro festival in Hana. Several members and organizations of the community became involved and the first annual East Maui Taro Festival that was held at Hana Ballpark on March 26, 1993.  The group later formally organized and received their 501(C)(3) status with a mission “To preserve and protect the Hawaiian culture and practices with a focus on taro as it is the symbol and staple of the Hawaiian (kanaka maoli) people.”  The 19th Annual East Maui Taro Festival was held on April 30, 2011.  Kaimi has a BA in Anthropology (Hawaiian Archaeology) from UH Mānoa and a MA in Anthropology (Public Archaeology) from Northern Arizona University.