BY JOY OFASIA
Taro pudding with coconut milk, cooked in bamboo and called Lakeno, is a traditional food in Malaita, Solomon Islands. It is a favorite among locals and is commonly sold at the Auki Market. One of the vendors who has made Lakeno her main product is Rose Ella, a mother of seven from Busurata village in Central Kwara’ae.
Rose has been making Lakeno since she was a young girl. Over the years, she noticed that many people visiting Auki Market always wanted to buy the coconut-milked taro in bamboo. Seeing the demand, she decided to focus on Lakeno as a main product to support her family.
“I have seen the high demand of people coming to the market always wanting to buy coconut milked taro in bamboos (Lakeno), so I decided that this would be the main product to sell here since I live in the highlands of Malaita where there is very good soil to grow taro in,” Rose said.
Rose grows her own taro on her farm in Busurata village. She and her supportive husband work together every day, preparing taro pudding in bamboo to sell at the market.
“Selling my Lakenos have put my four eldest children to school, which is one of the benefits from my market,” she said proudly. “Also, the income has been the only support my family has had, and we are proud to be achieving our little goals and meeting our needs and wants out of our hard work.”
Making Lakeno is not easy. Rose starts early in the morning, boiling taros and pounding them in a wooden bowl. She spreads the taro on fresh banana leaves, pours thick boiled coconut cream on top, and carefully places it inside bamboo tubes to be cooked over fire. Each step is important, and the careful preparation is what makes lakeno special and loved by many.
Despite the success, Rose faces challenges like other vendors from villages far from town. Travel expenses and truck fares can be high, especially when there are many sellers in the market. Sometimes she must lower her price to ensure the Lakeno is sold before the day ends.
“The challenge that I face sometimes is when I have to cover the amount of expense and truck fare spent travelling to the market from my village. This happens when there are many Lakenos also sold at the market. Sometimes I had to lower my price in order for it to be purchased so that I can go home in the evening part of the day,” Rose explained.
The cost to travel to Auki Market is $30, and transporting her bamboo products costs $20 per bag. At the market, she sells each Lakeno for between $30 and $35.
Despite the hard work and challenges, Rose continues to bring her family’s taro and Lakeno to the market every day. She hopes to keep supporting her children’s education and her family’s needs while sharing a taste of Malaita’s traditional food with the community.
“Making and selling Lakeno is hard work, but it is also very rewarding. I am happy to see my children go to school and to see people enjoy the food we prepare with care,” Rose said with a smile.
Rose’s story is a reflection of many small-scale vendors in Malaita, whose hard work and dedication bring traditional food to the community while supporting their families.
