Along the coast of Northern Maui, the curvy, often-one-lane highway winds around tropical homesteads and lush, brightly colored gardens. Just after it winds through Kahakuloa, on the shores of the aptly named Kahakuloa Bay, a small fluorescent green wooden structure beckons passing travelers. Proudly, an equally green, three-foot sandwich board advertises “The Best Banana Bread on the Planet!”
Photo © Richard D. LeCour
Along a stretch of road that has few roadside markets, no restaurants, and no real rest stops, that’s an almost impossible slogan to refuse. Parking is limited, as there’s only room for two or three cars at the side of the road.
We stopped, then sampled and purchased a loaf for $5.00. Water and sodas were an additional $2.00 each. The loaf of banana bread in its disposable aluminum pan was still so fresh and hot that I could barely hold it comfortably as we sat in our top-down convertible and quickly consumed thick slices of the steamy, moist cake-like bread.
Julia and Deja Kaiwi run the stand year-round. They even offer their loaves via Priority Mail, shipping out on Mondays when they make their weekly 14-mile trip to the Post Office. A fellow visitor who had also enjoyed Julia’s banana bread only a few months prior had this to say:
A Hawaiian woman working inside welcomed us in and gave us the story on the banana bread, but all I could focus on was the economic genius of the banana bread lady.
Let me explain. She has a zero-maintenance shack on the side of the road. Cars are pulling off as they approach from both directions. She sells 70 loaves of bread each day by noon and then she is done for the day. Each loaf is $5. She works 7 days a week. 70*5*365 = $127,750 a year. So working half days, this lady is making six figures and I don’t think Uncle Sam knows she is out there. Neither does the Board of Health for that matter. I am in the wrong line of work, I guess.
I am somewhat an aficionado of banana breads, and this was one of the best breakfasts we had during our week-long stay in Maui — probably a combination of hunger levels, exotic location, homemade quality, and the freshness. And, yes, it tasted pretty darn good, too. I might have added nuts to the recipe, but considering how quickly the loaf disappeared we had no real complaints. A great breakfast for two for only nine bucks.
I haven’t made it yet.
I remember trying this banana bread over 5 years ago and still can remember how great it is. I’m going back in December and already crave a hot fresh loaf of the best banana bread I’ve ever had.