Hawaii banana ID?
 

Was lucky enough to get this banana from a friend in Hawaii earlier this year. Luckily it passed USDA inspection (I had been worried it wouldn't - but since it was going to SC, no big deal I guess). It's been growing great, but I have NO clue what the ID is. I'm curious to find out, any help would be most appreciated. If it helps, it's from Kauai.



Thanks,
John

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

Here's another shot of it:

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

Since its so young its hard to say exactly what it is, but of the common bananas found growing random places in Hawaii, it is not Apple (known as Brazilian on the mainland), Williams or Gros Michel. It actually looks rather an authentic Hawaiian traditional variety, possibly a Maoli or Popo'ulu type. If/when it fruits, it will be much easier to tell what it is.

Do you know anything more about it, like in what kind of condition it was collected (in the forest, from somones yard...) or anything about what kind of fruit it is supposed to make?

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

Well, I asked at the time and he swore he got the parent from a grove along a neat a hike we've often gone on near Wai'ale'ale's crater. It's where the stream diverges into an irrigation ditch if you know where I'm talking about - near the road with "the gate" bc of the filming of Jurassic Park. There's only one banana grove I've seen there, so I assume that's the one he's talking about; it's right near the ditch. I have a photo from far away, but didn't get a close up unfortunately - didn't know I needed too at the time bc I got the pup later on. Given the location, it wouldn't surprise me if it was a traditional banana. The location couldn't be more remote honestly.

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

LOL, I don't believe it. I went back and looked at some photos I took there in 2005 and my wife just happened to take a photo of the ditch and grove I was talking about. It's the only one around, so I think that's where the parent was from.

Hope this helps.

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

I'll see if we have any other photos. I might have one tucked away from another year. Unfortunately digital cameras in 2005 weren't what they are now. LOL, wish I'd taken that shot above with the SLR.

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

This is as good as I can get for now. I'm going to search around the web and see if anyone else has perhaps taken a photo of this location. Maybe I'll get lucky and someone will have a closeup. Not sure most folks take quite as many plant photos as me though, LOL

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

That mat kinda looks like common Hawaiian 'Apple' ('Brazilian' on the mainland), hard to say exactly without a clear bunch shot, but clearly not a Hawaiian traditional variety.

Someone who knows that area well has informed me that there are no Hawaiian traditional bananas in the immediate area of your photograph, but there are some not far up the trail, so perhaps it could have been collected somewhere a little further up, or there was another mat in the area that maybe wasn't noticed. But the young plant you have really doesn't look like it came from that mat judging from the pictures.

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

Thanks, I emailed the photo and asked him again. He says that's the grove for sure, so I dunno. The "path" doesn't go much further before it turns into a pig trail heading towards the 'Blue Hole.' Here's the location in Google maps, if that helps at all with your source:
Wai'ale'ale North Fork Stream Divergence

Maybe when the young one gets older I'll have a better chance of IDing it.

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

Also is the "Apple Banana," the same as Musa acuminata 'Ice Cream'?

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

Nope....

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

OK, this is still bugging me so I started doing more research.

Apple (or Brazilian) is the same as Manzano right?

Gabe, since I have confirmed that mat is the originating place of this banana, is calling it a manzano likely my best ID? At least until I get a flower in a year or two?

Two more closeups... for kicks. Surprisingly, no pups yet.

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

I am going to guess that it is a banana plant.

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

No. In Hawai'i, what is called 'Apple' is actually what is known as 'Brazilian' on the mainland. What is called 'Manzano' and 'Apple' on the mainland is either called 'Manzano', or less often 'True Apple' here. So I suppose you could call it a 'Brazilian' if you want for now.

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

Looks just like my Hawaiian Apples that I know are true. The color and leaf shape spot on.

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

Gotcha, thanks guys.

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

How come the Musa dwarf brazilian doesn't have nearly that much pink(just on the edges), and it's supposed to be the same thing?
The Mexican apple also doesn't have that much pink either.

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

Alrighty, finally some pictures of the mat in which this banana came from. Here are several I took earlier this month when revisiting the site on Kaua`i. They were much taller than I remembered, and the mat seems to be fighting for its space near the weir/ditch in the Wai`ale`ale basin. If I had to guess, the mat is about a third smaller than when I first visited it in 2005.

I think the ID of Hawaiian Apple or Mainland Brazilian is the correct ID. If you all can confirm, I'd appreciate it. I have put mine in the ground, and hope it'll survive my winter. Just in case, I have two pups split off indoors.

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

Bump, anyone got a guess with the new photos?

I left one of these outside this year... keeping my fingers crossed. It's been reeally cold lately, so I'm a bit worried. I've protected the p-stem as best I can. Just would like to confirm the ID.

Re: Hawaii banana ID?
 

Tough to tell from a pic but I'd say yes, HA. The fruits look exactly like mine. You can see some in my photo gallery.