Ele Ele "Black Hawaiian" Banana

The history of the Maia Maoli Ele Ele or the Ele Ele Banana is intertwined with the earliest history of Hawaii. Ele Ele is thought to be one of the first canoe plants brought to Hawaii with the original settlers from the Marquesas islands in the mid 700's. The banana of the Alii, royalty, it is unclear if this banana came with the first Hawaiians in the eighth century or slightly later. Much through early Hawaiian history the Ele Ele was the most treasured of bananas, as evinced by this 1600's chant offered to the god Kanaloa:Ka maia nui e