Poi is a short, polyvalent word with distinct meanings in food, performing arts and modern abbreviations. In Polynesia, and especially in Hawai‘i, poi refers to a starchy paste made from cooked and pounded taro (Colocasia esculenta) and forms a traditional staple food. In Aotearoa (New Zealand), poi also names a rhythmic performance tradition that uses tethered weights swung in patterns. The capitalized form, POI, appears in contemporary language as an acronym with several common senses.
Poi as food
Traditional poi is prepared by steaming or baking taro corms until soft, then pounding them into a smooth paste. Water is added to adjust consistency; a thicker version is sometimes described as "one-finger" poi, while thinner poi pours more readily. Fresh poi is mild and slightly sweet; when left to ferment for a day or two it develops a tangy, sour note that many people find desirable. Poi is gluten-free and nutrient-rich, providing carbohydrates, some vitamins and minerals, and a digestible form of starch that was important historically as a reliable staple.
Poi is commonly eaten at communal meals and ceremonies and may be served with fish, salted meat, or vegetables. It holds cultural significance in many Polynesian communities as food that connects people to taro cultivation, ancestral practices and communal sharing. Modern variations and commercial preparations exist alongside traditional home-made poi.
Poi as performance art
Performance poi originated among Māori communities, where it was used for training, storytelling and entertainment. Traditional poi were small balls attached to cords or flax strips and were incorporated into waiata (songs) and dances. Contemporary poi practice has diversified: practitioners use soft fabric poi, LED poi for light displays, and fire poi for spectacle. Movements focus on rhythm, timing and geometric patterns traced by swinging weights around the body.
Learning poi develops coordination, spatial awareness and musicality. Fire poi and other hazardous variants require training, safety precautions and suitable protective equipment. Poi has become part of wider flow-arts communities worldwide and is often taught in workshops, festivals and performing-arts programmes, while remaining an element of Māori cultural practice.
POI as an acronym
- Point of interest — a label used in mapping, GPS and tourism to mark locations such as attractions, services or landmarks.
- Person of interest — a policing term for a person law enforcement wishes to question; it does not necessarily imply criminal guilt.
- Proof of identity — documents presented to verify identity, commonly abbreviated POI in administrative contexts.
- Computing and software — POI can refer to specific projects or libraries; one widely known example is a library used to read and write certain office document formats.
Distinctions and cultural notes
Although the terms share spelling, the culinary poi and the performance poi are unrelated in function. Both, however, carry cultural meanings for their communities: poi as food connects people to agriculture and family tradition, while poi as performance embodies history, storytelling and creativity. When encountering the word, context—geographical, cultural or technical—usually clarifies which sense is intended.
Because poi appears in diverse domains, writers and speakers often qualify the term (for example, "poi the food," "performance poi" or "POI in mapping") to avoid ambiguity. Respectful discussion of poi in its cultural contexts recognizes its importance to Indigenous knowledge and communal practices, and modern uses reflect ongoing cultural exchange and adaptation.