Mauna Kea Banana Plantation

Mauna Kea Banana Plantation

	Our friend and tour guide Paul manages the packing and distribution at the Mauna Kea Banana Plantation, not far from Akaka Falls. He's a great source for information (as always) and we thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Mahalo Paul!
This is where it all begins as the adult plant of the banana tree sends out a "heart" or a bloom.	From the heart, the bananas develop. Leaves fall off or are plucked.
Once a bunch has matured, bags are used to protect them from insects, disease, and bruising. Color coded ribbons tied to the end of the bags tell harvesters which bunch to harvest in succession.	This harvester equipped with a machete', protective shin guards, and padding on his shoulder looks for a specific color of ribbon on a bunch that is ready for harvesting.
A "V" shaped notch is cut   into the tree allowing the weight of the tree to slowly  lower the bunch of bananas to the padded shoulder of the harvester.	Once the bunch is lowered it is cut off and gently placed on the trailer. Then the rest of the tree is cut off, usually with one swing! It is chopped into pieces and left for mulch.
From the trailer the bananas are hung, awaiting washing and packing. This particular farm, Mauna Kea Banana Plantation, grows two varieties of bananas. The bunch pictured here is the Williams Banana.	Another type of banana that is grown is called the Apple Banana. The Hawaiian word for banana is "Mai'a".
	From the "hangers" the bananas are carefully cleaned in large vats and are then cut into bunches.
The bananas are weighed and placed on a tray and moved by conveyor.	Packers box each tray for distribution by the Kea'au Banana Plantation, another family owned farm.
	Banana trees grow from corms. This picture shows keiki (KAY-e-key), or baby banana plants at the base of the tree. A "pruner" will prune away all but one baby plant, so that eventually there is an adult, a teenager, and a baby plant for each tree. It will take a full year before the baby tree will "throw" a bunch.

Sumber : http://members.nckcn.com/ttuttle/Travels/bigisland/bananafarm.htm