17. Maui Tropical Plantation

On Friday, Chester joined the other three of us for a visit to the Maui Tropical Plantation, while Mary Etta continued her Oceanside R & R in her hotel . The Plantation is located near the town of Wailuku, on Maui. It is situated in the Valley Region of the island, and is surrounded by fertile, green fields of sugar cane. The visitor attraction displays a variety of palm trees, pineapple fields, and many types of tropical flora. The highlight of the visit is a narrated tram ride back into the working fields of the plantation. At one stop, we saw coconut trees being pruned back to avoid the potential damage from falling coconuts. We learned that a property owner is responsible if a falling coconut falls on someone else’s car, or other property, so it is important for the trees to be frequently pruned. The narrator also demonstrated the practice of coconut husking and then cracking open the actual coconut inside the outer shell. The tram ride also included an amazing display of whole fields of tropical fruits, nuts, flowers and other vegetation. Following the visit to the Plantation, we made our way down to the harbor village of Maalea to have lunch before returning to the resort area of West Maui. The General Store also featured a local deli and sandwich shop. So we shared our lunch on the front porch, overlooking the Maui Coast Guard Station and the large number of fishing boats tied up in the marina. The prevalence of boats and water sports and attractions is no surprise on these islands. It seems that water is everywhere, and surely it is the basis for much of the tourism that is at the heart of the economy of these islands.