Picture by Sarah Burchard
Regardless of what you see within the grocery retailer, there are literally thousands of types of bananas. Hawaiʻi has not less than 150 of them. If you happen to’ve solely had the ever-present cavendish, it’s time to increase your horizons.
On September 21, Sluggish Meals Oʻahu will host its annual Banana Competition, or Ka Mai‘a ‘Ho‘olaule‘a. The occasion celebrates one in all Hawaiʻi’s unique canoe crops with chef tastings, banana stalk printing, a banana cook-off and a tasting station that includes a various collection of bananas in numerous flavors, colours, sizes and textures. The competition can be held at Windward Neighborhood Faculty from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with a particular presentation by Gabe Sacher-Smith, proprietor of Hawaii Banana Supply and co-sponsor of the competition, at 1 p.m. Friends should buy tickets online for $10 or on the door for $12. Youngsters underneath 12 get in without cost.
Sacher-Smith mentioned he expects to have round 15 varieties for visitors to style, perhaps extra if you happen to rely the bunches galore that can be hanging across the perimeter of the competition. It truly is a sight to behold.
Picture by Sarah Burchard
The place do bananas come from?
Guests to Hawaiʻi could also be stunned to know that bananas – maiʻa in Hawaiian – are extra native than pineapple. Neither are indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands, however bananas arrived with the primary Polynesians – by means of Southeast Asia – within the 13th century, whereas pineapple – native to Brazil and Paraguay – was launched by a Spanish advisor to the King within the early 1800s. The pineapple trade, established within the 1880s, might have been an financial boon to the islands till 2008, however bananas nonetheless flourish islandwide. In accordance with the Hawaiʻi Division of Agriculture, Hawaiʻi grew 4.73 million kilos of bananas in 2023.
What kinds of bananas develop in Hawaiʻi?
The apple banana, with its signature tart inexperienced apple taste, is essentially the most broadly recognized and grown in Hawaiʻi. Sacher-Smith mentioned no different selection even comes shut. However take a stroll on his farm on the North Shore of Oʻahu and one can find varieties corresponding to pink cuban, rose, yangambi, racadag, namwah, ice cream, silk, goldfinger, iholena, pōpō ʻulu, saba, pineapple, mysore, maoli, bluefield, praying fingers, tuu ghia, pisang lilin, williams and pink burro. He even grows gros michele – the unique ubiquitous banana earlier than the Panama illness worn out business manufacturing in Central and South America within the mid 20th century – and, after all, cavendish.
Picture by Sarah Burchard
What can I look forward to finding on the Banana Competition?
There may be a lot to expertise on the Banana Competition. Whether or not you’re there to geek out, purchase your first banana plant or simply eat, the competition will hold you engaged all afternoon.
Bananas to eat
- Native cooks will serve a wide range of banana dishes from candy to savory. Ever strive banana blossoms or banana stems? Right here is your probability.
- The banana tasting desk is your alternative to pattern over a dozen of locally-grown banana varieties.
- The Nice Banana Cook dinner-Off invitations all cooks, skilled and home-based, to create one thing revolutionary and scrumptious for a particular prize.
Picture by Sarah Burchard
Bananas as artwork
- On the mai‘a stalk printing sales space you may deliver a shirt or tote bag (or purchase one on the competition) to stamp. Banana stalks make stunning patterns!
- Be taught a Samoan dyeing approach utilizing kapa (conventional material made from bark) and purple feʻi banana sap.
- Follow lauhala (dried leaf weaving) and banana fiber weaving. Historically, black (ele ele) banana fiber was woven with lauhala (the dried leaf of the pandanus tree).
Picture by Sarah Burchard
Study bananas
- Attend a one-hour lecture introduced by banana professional Gabe Sacher-Smith on finest rising practices, banana biodiversity, botanical historical past, cultivation and culinary makes use of of bananas.
Purchase Bananas
- Buy banana crops or bananas by the bunch.
- Additionally on the market: banana books, t-shirts and extra.
Picture by Sarah Burchard
Occasion Particulars
Date: Sunday, Sept. 21.
Time: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: Windward Neighborhood Faculty
Price:
$10 upfront (deliver printed ticket receipt for entry)
$12 on the door
Youngsters underneath 12 are free.
