Pua Maiʻa Photograph by Heidi Fickinger
(translation : Banana Flower)
Brought to the islands by early Polynesian voyagers as a foundational “canoe plant,” it was a vital source of food, medicine, and shade. Different types are suited for different uses. For example, the maiʻa pōpō ʻulu is favored for baking, while the maiʻa koaʻe is known for its beautifully striped leaves. The original varieties brought to Hawaii by early Polynesian voyagers belong to the species Musa × paradisiaca. This name represents a cultivated hybrid of two wild Asian banana species: Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana. Traditional Hawaiian cultivars under this umbrella belong primarily to the AAB Group (such as the Iholena and Pōpōʻulu types). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] (cater.hwaii.edu)
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