One of our favorite fruits at Hawai‘i Tropical Botanical Garden? The banana! 🍌 Known scientifically as Musa spp. and in Hawaiian as Mai‘a, this tropical treasure is more than just a tasty snack. Did you know the part we eat is actually the fruit, while the striking flower (the “banana heart”) grows at the end of the stalk? Polynesians brought bananas to Hawai‘i centuries ago as part of their canoe plants, and they’ve been a beloved staple ever since. We love them—sweet, versatile, and totally p