Hawaii was not as Musa diverse as I thought it would be

Nicolas Naranja · 03-05-2019, 09:10 AM

I was on the Big Island for 10 days and drove all around the island. I stayed in Waikaloa and on the west side drove from Hawi in the north to Southpoint in the south, I went to Hilo and Puna and covered a good part of the Hamakua coast. Probably my biggest surprise was Cherry blossoms in Waimea. Anyways, I saw lots of Brazillian bananas, both tall and dwarf and a fair amount of Cavendish. I saw a fair amount of Saba. The most exotic banana I ran across was an Ice Cream. I was expecting to see a lot more Iholena and Popoulu types. I even went to the Farmer's Market in Hilo and saw lots of exotic fruit, but not much in the way in exotic bananas, although foot long Cavendish bananas are quite a sight to see. The avocados of Kona were far more interesting to me.

This is what you find in the stores

Some excellent looking Cavendish

Some Ice Cream

robguz24 · 03-05-2019, 02:48 PM

Ah shoot, I would have loved for you to contact me. I would have been happy to show you my collection, connect you with others with collections, and let you know where else you may find some unusual ones for sale. Popoulu and Iholena types remain a rarity here. Few grow them and they're some of the most difficult to grow. I can't keep them alive without digging up and replanting in virgin spots every year or less.

Nicolas Naranja · 03-05-2019, 11:06 PM

Where on the island are you at? We went on an adventure trying to figure out where Ohana banana farms is. I met Mr. Young Tarring about 8 years ago and wanted to see his farm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by robguz24

Ah shoot, I would have loved for you to contact me. I would have been happy to show you my collection, connect you with others with collections, and let you know where else you may find some unusual ones for sale. Popoulu and Iholena types remain a rarity here. Few grow them and they're some of the most difficult to grow. I can't keep them alive without digging up and replanting in virgin spots every year or less.

robguz24 · 03-06-2019, 12:56 PM

I'm past Pahoa near Kalapana, about 45 minutes from Hilo.

Nicolas Naranja · 03-06-2019, 03:17 PM

We were actually in Pahoa and were going down the road to see the lava trees and turned around because it said the roads were closed. I guess I need to go back

robguz24 · 03-06-2019, 05:11 PM

Oh yeah, the other road remains open. Nothing past that closed road except 700 homes under lava. Let me know if you return!

sirdoofus · 08-22-2021, 02:19 PM

My wife and I are heading to the big island this December, hopefully the 4th wave doesn't derail us, and of course one of the items on our agenda is checking out and hopefully eating some interesting bananas. I would love to check out your collection and would also be very greatful for your local insight and direction if it's not to much to ask?

03-05-2019, 09:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
Nicolas Naranja Muck bananas Nicolas Naranja 's Photo Gallery Location: Pahokee, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Nick Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,217 BananaBucks : 537,393 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 66 Times Was Thanked 5,665 Times in 1,563 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Hawaii was not as Musa diverse as I thought it would be I was on the Big Island for 10 days and drove all around the island. I stayed in Waikaloa and on the west side drove from Hawi in the north to Southpoint in the south, I went to Hilo and Puna and covered a good part of the Hamakua coast. Probably my biggest surprise was Cherry blossoms in Waimea. Anyways, I saw lots of Brazillian bananas, both tall and dwarf and a fair amount of Cavendish. I saw a fair amount of Saba. The most exotic banana I ran across was an Ice Cream. I was expecting to see a lot more Iholena and Popoulu types. I even went to the Farmer's Market in Hilo and saw lots of exotic fruit, but not much in the way in exotic bananas, although foot long Cavendish bananas are quite a sight to see. The avocados of Kona were far more interesting to me. This is what you find in the stores Some excellent looking Cavendish Some Ice Cream __________________ Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

03-05-2019, 02:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
robguz24 Rob Location: Kalapana, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 11 Name: Rob Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,506 BananaBucks : 286,372 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,320 Times Was Thanked 4,961 Times in 1,080 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 204 Times	Re: Hawaii was not as Musa diverse as I thought it would be Ah shoot, I would have loved for you to contact me. I would have been happy to show you my collection, connect you with others with collections, and let you know where else you may find some unusual ones for sale. Popoulu and Iholena types remain a rarity here. Few grow them and they're some of the most difficult to grow. I can't keep them alive without digging up and replanting in virgin spots every year or less. __________________ My micro-farm Stay on my Big Island banana farm cottage

03-06-2019, 12:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
robguz24 Rob Location: Kalapana, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 11 Name: Rob Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,506 BananaBucks : 286,372 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,320 Times Was Thanked 4,961 Times in 1,080 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 204 Times	Re: Hawaii was not as Musa diverse as I thought it would be I'm past Pahoa near Kalapana, about 45 minutes from Hilo. __________________ My micro-farm Stay on my Big Island banana farm cottage

03-06-2019, 03:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
Nicolas Naranja Muck bananas Nicolas Naranja 's Photo Gallery Location: Pahokee, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Nick Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,217 BananaBucks : 537,393 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 66 Times Was Thanked 5,665 Times in 1,563 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: Hawaii was not as Musa diverse as I thought it would be We were actually in Pahoa and were going down the road to see the lava trees and turned around because it said the roads were closed. I guess I need to go back __________________ Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

03-06-2019, 05:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
robguz24 Rob Location: Kalapana, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 11 Name: Rob Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,506 BananaBucks : 286,372 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,320 Times Was Thanked 4,961 Times in 1,080 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 204 Times	Re: Hawaii was not as Musa diverse as I thought it would be Oh yeah, the other road remains open. Nothing past that closed road except 700 homes under lava. Let me know if you return! __________________ My micro-farm Stay on my Big Island banana farm cottage

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08-22-2021, 02:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
sirdoofus Location: Central Vancouver Island, BC Canada Find me on the map! Zone: AgCan 7b, USDA 6b Name: Mike Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 1,090 BananaBucks : 32,727 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,225 Times Was Thanked 1,275 Times in 634 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 98 Times	Re: Hawaii was not as Musa diverse as I thought it would be My wife and I are heading to the big island this December, hopefully the 4th wave doesn't derail us, and of course one of the items on our agenda is checking out and hopefully eating some interesting bananas. I would love to check out your collection and would also be very greatful for your local insight and direction if it's not to much to ask? __________________ Who keeps calling me nuts??

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