Lofty sun worshippers, they soak up solar energy with leaves that can measure 4 feet wide and 18 feet long. At any given time around the globe, countless coconuts are falling off trees, rolling down beaches, floating in streams and heading into oceans.īuoyant, resilient and water-resistant, they can bob for thousands of miles before putting down roots in coastal regions from Mexico to Myanmar, Tanzania to Thailand and Sri Lanka to the Solomon Islands. Check out coconutmes to order a USDA-inspected, hand-painted coconut.įor one thing, it may be the world’s most active traveler. Before mailing, it will have to pass agricultural inspection. Postal Service, it’s fine to mail a coconut the cost runs between $12 and $20, depending on its weight. Despite its coir, or fibrous husk, it is considered a cousin of other drupes such as peaches, plums and cherries. > The coconut is not a nut it’s actually a drupe, a fleshy fruit that has a single hard seed. Coconut water was used as an emergency substitute in IV drips. > During World War II, plasma was in short supply in the Pacific. Indonesia, the Philippines and India produce 73 percent of the world’s annual total of 61 million tons. A tree can provide between 12 and 36 coconuts per month year-round for up to 80 years. > Trees can bear their first coconuts in six to 10 years, but it could take 15 to 20 years to reach peak production. They require warmth, sandy soil, high humidity and lots of sunlight. > Coconut palms grow in the tropics, between 20 degrees latitude north and south of the equator. They loosen the soil like little tractors, allowing moisture, nutrients and oxygen to penetrate deep into the ground.”įrom start to finish, the tour highlights the reasons why McPhee regards the coconut as one of the most amazing plants on the planet. Critters like worms, beetles and centipedes are thriving in the healthier environment. “Our fertilizer is droppings from the hundreds of birds that fly in and out of our farm every day. “Now we’re returning those resources to the ground by making compost from fallen fronds. “For 10 years, my dad was trimming fronds off the trees and hauling them away to keep this place nice and tidy,” he said. As tour groups linger in the grove, McPhee describes how natural farming methods are rejuvenating the soil. The sugar plantations used a lot of chemicals back then, and nutrients were being removed from the ground whenever they harvested.”īecause of that, the land was in poor condition when Punakea Palms’ trees were planted. “It had been that way for over a century. “I was raised in Lahaina, and when I was growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, there were sugar cane fields as far as you could see in both directions,” said McPhee, the tour’s primary guide. Wear sunscreen, a hat or visor and cool, comfortable clothing. > Notes: Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the tour. > Cost: $49 general, $39 for children ages 5 to 12. Registration is required via phone or online booking. The server kept saying how happy she was to see people back on the island and at their luau.> Where: Punakea Palms, 225 Punakea Loop, Lahaina, Maui We can’t forget to mention the kind, courteous and thoughtful staff. Our favorites were the ahi poke, mahi-mahi and the sweet rolls with lilikoi butter. We got to try poi for the first time we all agreed it must be an acquired taste. The food was served family-style, and the portions were overly generous. We especially loved the fire dancers at the end of the show-the fire-walking was scary but impressive. We even learned a few Hawaiian phrases and some dance moves (the open bar definitely helped). The story they told was fantastic and so were the performers. Of course, interactive shows like this depend on the audience’s desire to participate. The beachside location at sunset put us in an aloha state of mind even before we were escorted to our private table. We have been to a few luaus on different islands in the past, but this was by far our favorite. Photography Provided By: Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
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