Maiʻa: All types of banana. Originally the banana was introduced by the Hawaiians, and native varieties were developed, some of which are still used. When the white man came, about 70 different kinds were known; today, only about half that number. These are mainly varieties of Musa xparadisiaca, especially the varieties sapientum and normalis. Some kinds are eaten raw, others cooked. Bananas were taboo to women except certain ones, as maiʻa iho lena and maiʻa pōpō ʻula, with yellow flesh. Bananas are not mentioned in songs because of unfavorable connotations: see līlā, ʻolohaka. It was considered bad luck to dream of bananas, to meet a man carrying bananas, or to take them in fishing canoes.