Jimmy Mapu, Japanese Guest Services supervisor, explained the 20-minute farm tour is part of the Center’s circle island, barbecue lunch tour package. “We take them through and tell them a little about the different plants we have, their practical uses, how some of the them are cooked, and how Polynesians eat them.”

“They love the tour,” said Mapu, who served as an LDS missionary in the Tokyo South Mission. He supervises about 60 Japanese-speaking guides at the Center.

“I think people in general like botany, and a lot of the plants we have here are not readily available in Japan. Of course, they eat bananas, but they’ve never seen them growing on a tree. We also have a lot of flowers.”

Mapu added before each group leaves the farm, “Concessions prepare a little sample of the fruits that are there. That’s their favorite part. Everything’s so fresh and grown right there.”