Sweet Beginnings: Our First Sunrise or possibly Sunset Papaya and Strawberry Papayas Are Growing!

Sunrise and Strawberry Papayas Are On the Way! 🍈🌸

There’s something magical about watching fruit form for the first time. Today, we noticed the first sunrise papayas growing strong on one of our young trees here at Hāna Lōkahi Farms — and we’re filled with gratitude.

Papaya trees grow fast, but they don’t always fruit right away. We’ve been caring for these seedlings with rainwater, rich soil, and sunshine, waiting for the moment they’d begin to offer their gifts — and now they have!

🌿 🌞 Why We Love Sunrise Papayas at Hāna Lōkahi Farms

Sunrise papayas are one of our favorite fruits to grow — and not just because they’re sweet. These vibrant, red-fleshed papayas are like little suns in fruit form: juicy, tropical, and full of life. We love how quickly they grow, how generously they fruit, and how every bite reminds us of the warmth of Maui’s soil and sun. Whether we’re blending them into smoothies, slicing them fresh with lime, or drying them for snacks, Sunrise papayas nourish our bodies and spirits. They’re a gift from the ʻāina, and a symbol of the abundance we’re cultivating, one tree at a time.

Why We Love our juicy red Papayas:

• Sweet, large, red and juicy

• Perfect for smoothies, fruit bowls, or drying

• High in vitamin C, fiber, and digestive enzymes

• In Hawaiian healing, papaya is known to soothe inflammation and support gut health

These are still green, but once they blush into soft pink-orange, we’ll harvest and share the sweetness — both at home and at the market.

Every fruit reminds us that good things take time, care, and patience — and that nature always provides when nurtured with aloha. Have you ever tried strawberry papaya?We’d love to hear your favorite way to eat or prepare it! Mahalo for celebrating this little farm victory with us. 🌈🍓🍈 🍈 Sunrise vs. Strawberry vs. Sunset Papaya

Finding the perfect papaya for your plate or your garden!

Feature	🌅 Sunrise Papaya	🍓 Strawberry Papaya	🌇 Sunset Papaya
Flesh Color	Deep reddish-orange	Pink to salmon-red	Bright orange-red
Flavor	Very sweet, aromatic, tropical	Mildly sweet, soft flavor	Sweet and smooth, slightly less intense
Size	Large (2–4 lbs)	Medium (1–2 lbs)	Small to medium (under 2 lbs)
Shape	Long, oval, tapered ends	Oval or pear-shaped	Small, rounder, slightly squat
Skin When Ripe	Yellow with orange blush	Yellow with pink hue	Yellow to orange
Tree Size	Tall and upright	Medium	Compact, good for small gardens
Growing Time	Fast-growing	Medium-paced	Fast-growing
Shelf Life	Excellent (good for export)	Moderate	Shorter shelf life
Common Uses	Smoothies, drying, fruit bowls, fresh eating	Fresh eating, desserts, smoothies	Home gardens, fresh eating
Best For	Heavy yields, large families, markets	Everyday eating, small families	Small spaces, quick harvests
Grown In	Hawaiʻi, tropical farms worldwide	Common in Hawaiʻi & tropics	Mostly Hawaiʻi gardens
Botanical Notes	Hybrid of Kapoho Solo & Sunset	Solo type with various seed strains	Older cultivar, parent of Sunrise
Fun Fact	Known as “Sunrise Solo”	Often sold as “Strawberry” but varies by grower	Contributed genetics to Sunrise papaya

With aloha, Hilary

Hāna Lōkahi Farms

HanaLokahi.com