THE BANANAS OF HAWAII 6 



easily separated from the fiesh. The flavor is excellent, with a 

 piquant sub-acid taste that relieves the otherwise almost cloy- 

 ing sweetness. The fruits are so easily loosened from the bunch 

 that this \'ariety is not adapted for shipping. Often in gathering 

 a thoroughly ripe bunch, a large proportion of the fruits shatter 

 from it as it is taken from the plant. Other exotic varieties are 

 the Bluefields, the Ice Cream, the xlpple, the Lady Finger, and 

 the Abaca, (Musa textilis, Manila hemp).^ 



The ancient Hawaiians recognized by distinctive names over 

 twenty varieties of banana. The number was probably much 

 larger than this, as many of the local and lesser-known varieties 

 have long been extinct, exactly as in the case of the taro and 

 the sweet potato. These varieties can be arranged in three 

 groups, each group segregated about a dominant type, Maoli, 

 Iho-lena, and Po-po-ulu. The following list contains detailed 

 information, so far as is available, concerning the characteristics 

 of each variety. In the Hawaiian language the generic name for 

 banana is 7?iaia, to which is added the specific or varietal name, 

 as for example, Maia Iho-lena, Maia Hua Moa, Maia Kana-lua. 

 In the list only the varietal ^ames are given. All of the native 

 bananas are varieties of Musa sapientum. 



Aa-o. This name is applied by the natives to a very rare tall-growing variety, 

 restricted to glens and recesses in the mountains, and not found in cultivation; 

 other characters unknown. 



Ele-ele. A variety belonging to the Maoli group. The trunk, petioles and 

 midribs are all very dark, almost black; this character gives the name, which 

 means dark or black. The young fruit also is so dark that at a distance it looks 

 black. The dark leaf-sheaths, petioles, and mid-ribs furnished materially for- 

 merly used by the natives in making hats. 



Ha-a. A variety belonging to the Iho-lena group. The plant is of low stat- 

 ure, 6 to 8 feet, even smaller than the Iho-lena. The leaf-blade is light, clear 

 green. The stem is light green with numerous longitudinal blackish sti'eaks. This 

 streaking is constant and forms a varietal character. Under favorable condi- 

 tions it fruits much sooner than other varieties. The bunch is short, but large. 

 The fruits are pointed at the apex. This is one of the choicest varieties for cook- 

 ing. It closely resembles the Iho-lena, and is sometimes called Iho-lena Ha-a. 



Hai. A variety belonging to the Maoli group. This variety forms the largest 

 plant of any of the native bananas, and produces the largest bunch of fruit. 

 Plants twenty-five feet high are not uncommon. The individual fruits are also 



1 See Higgins, J. E., The banana in Hawaii, Haw. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bui. 1906. 



