Health permits stymie Hawaii poi pounder

HONOLULU, May 20 (UPI) -- A traditional-Hawaiian poi maker says the state won't allow him to sell the native delicacy.

Daniel Anthony told KITV-TV, Honolulu, that he had plans to expand his hand-made poi business but his attempt to obtain a health permit was blocked by officials.

KITV said the Department of Health's Sanitation Branch has concerns about the chances that the porous lava rocks Anthony uses to pound taro leaves into poi could harbor germs.

"The reason why we don't want anything porous is as food particles get inside, then it's really impossible to clean and once you cannot clean the surface you cannot disinfect it," explained department spokesman Peter Oshiro.

Anthony says he uses traditional methods of washing and boiling his tools and is eager to show the world what real poi tastes like, as opposed to the machine-produced variety.

Oshiro said the department would work with Anthony to get the necessary permits.