Thursday, February 11, 2010

The Napa of Pot: Big Island Hawaii?


I'm in Kailua-Kona sitting at a white desk, looking at the surging ocean. The surf is up and I am high as a parasailer. I forgot how good Hawaiian pot is.


Everybody has heard of Maui Wowie. But mainlanders forget that the rich volcanic soil of the Big Island - along with perfect, lush growing conditions - makes the pot here awesomer than even good Mendo.

"Kona Gold" is the pot grown in the sunny, perpetually-summer-like Kona region. I heard the name was actually coined by a black jazz musician - the same guy that brought jazz to the island. "Puna Butter" is another famous strain. It is grown in areas where sugar cane grew and it's sweet like budda. Some people will say the true old strains are dead.

The Big Island is famous for its volcanoes. Even though the rocky terrain seems harsh to the eye, it is a plant paradise. Plants love volcanic soil. Volcanic soil is so fertile because it contains many elements essential to plant growth: iron, magnesium, sodium, and potassium.

Many famous wines from around the world began as juice in grape plants planted at the bases of famous volcanoes. Interestingly, volcanic soil comprises only 1% of the earth's surface. Major areas of volcanic soils also occur in South America and Japan. I've never tried any South American or Japanese pot. Have you?