The Farm

Hawaiʻi Banana Source is a 35-acre organic farm on the North Shore of Oʻahu operated by four farmers: Chad, Connor, Rob and led by the Banana Sourcerer himself, Gabe Sachter-Smith.

We specialize in bananas and maintain around 150 varieties at any given time, but focus on commercial fruit production of Apple, Namwah, Gros Michel, Saba and Iholena.

In addition to growing fruit and maintaining varieties, we're also breeding our own speciality varieties via conventional cross-pollination techniques. 

Hi, I'm Gabe

Known across Oʻahu and the globe as one of the experts in bananas, I began growing bananas at the age of 14 in the mountains of Colorado. Seeking an environment better suited to the tropical fruit, I studied at the University of Hawaiʻi Manoa, where I earned a B.S. in Tropical Agriculture and Soil Science and an M.S. for my research in Banana bunchy top virus.

I've participated in many expeditions and projects around the globe: China, Indonesia, Uganda, Rwanda, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Samoa, Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam... even Finland, Belgium, France, and of course, Hawaiʻi.

I'm fascinated by banana diversity!

What We Grow

At Hawaiʻi Banana Source, we grow over 150 varieties of common and rare bananas... and even create new varieties of our own. Our most popular include Apple, Namwah, Gros Michel, and Ice Cream.

Many varieties are Native Hawaiian canoe crops — like Iholena, Pōpōʻulu, and Maoli — while others originally came from regions around the globe.

How We Grow

All the bananas we sell were grown on our organic farm and cared for by our team every step of the way. Our farm is one of the few USDA-certified organic banana farms in the entire state of Hawaiʻi and we take pride in what we grow. You can taste the difference!

Varieties we grow

  • 'Cocos' (AAA Gros Michel)
  • 'Highgate' (AAA Gros Michel)
  • 'Gros Michel'/'Bluefields' (AAA Gros Michel)
  • 'Dwarf Red'/'Dwarf Cuban Red' (AAA Red)
  • 'Dwarf Apple'/'Dwarf Brazilian (AAB Pome)
  • 'Apple'/'Brazilian' (AAB Pome)
  • 'Raja Puri' (AAB Pome)
  • 'Kayinja'/'Namwah' (ABB Pisang Awak)
  • 'NPV' (ABB Pisang Awak)
  • 'Dwarf Namwah' (ABB Pisang Awak)
  • 'Cardaba' (ABB Saba)
  • 'Pitogo' (ABB)'Praying Hands' (AAB Saba)
  • '1000 Fingers' (AAB Pisang Kelat)
  • 'Kandrian' (ABB)
  • 'Balonkawe' (ABB Klue Tiparot)
  • 'Largo' (ABB Bluggoe)
  • 'Dwarf Largo' (ABB Bluggoe)
  • 'Green Java' (ABB Ney Mannan)
  • 'Ice Cream' (ABB Ney Mannan)
  • 'Chinese'/'Dwarf Cavendish' (AAA Cavendish)
  • 'Ebun Musak' (AAA Mutika-Lujugira)
  • 'Bakurura'  (AAA Mutika-Lujugira)
  • 'Williams' (AAA Cavendish)
  • 'Ibota' (AAA Ibota)
  • 'Mai'a Iholena' (AAB Iholena)
  • 'Mai'a Lele' (AAB Iholena)
  • 'Mai'a Kapua' (AAB Iholena)
  • Unknown Iholena
  • 'Nani' (AAB Iholena)
  • 'Mai'a 'Ele'ele' (AAB Maoli-Popo'ulu)
  • 'Mai'a Ka'ualau' (AAB Maoli-Popo'ulu)
  • 'Mai'a Manaiula' (AAB Maoli-Popo'ulu)
  • 'Mai'a Popo'ulu' (AAB Maoli-Popo'ulu)
  • 'Mai'a Lahi' (AAB Maoli-Popo'ulu)
  • 'Mai'a Hua Moa' (AAB Maoli-Popo'ulu)
  • 'Putalinga Nounou' (AAB Maoli-Popo'ulu)
  • 'Putalinga Kula' (AAB Maoli-Popo'ulu)
  • 'Dwarf Puerto Rican Plantain' (AAB Plantain)
  • 'African Rhino Horn' (AAB Plantain)
  • 'Mysore'/'Pisang Ceylon' (AAB Mysore)
  • 'Silk Fig' (AAB Silk)
  • 'Tu'u Gia' (AA)
  • 'Rose' (AA)
  • 'Kru' (AA)
  • 'Tagomor' (AA)
  • 'Racadag' (AA)
  • 'Binaktong' (AA)
  • 'Pisang Lilin' (AA)
  • 'Pisang Berlin' (AA)
  • 'Muraru Mshale' (AA Mshare)
  • 'Huti Shumba Nyelu' (AA Mshare)
  • 'Mai'a Hapai' (AA Sucrier)
  • 'Kunnan' (AB Safet Velchi)
  • 'FHIA-01 'Goldfinger' (AAAB Pome-hybrid)
  • 'FHIA-03'/'Sweetheart' (AABB Bluggoe-hybrid)
  • 'FHIA-25' (AAAA, Gros Michel-hybrid)
  • 'SH-3460''Rowe Red'
  • Musa acuminata subsp. malaccensis 'Lyon'
  • Musa acuminata subsp. sumatrana
  • Musa acuminata subsp. zebrina
  • Musa balbisiana var. liukiuensis
  • Musa balbisiana, HI local feral
  • Musa balbisiana 'False Textilis'
  • Musa balbisiana 'Thai Black'/'Pisang Klutuk Wulung'
  • Musa velutina
  • Musa ornataMusa laterita
  • Musa siamensis
  • Musa mannii
  • Musa 'Royal Purple'
  • Musa sikkimensis
  • Musa beccariiMusa coccinea
  • Musa splendidaMusa gracilis
  • Musella lasiocarpa

Looking to grow your own plant?

Get in touch and put your name down on the list for rare varieties. Gabe will help match you with your perfect banana.

Contact Us