Kokee plum harvest begins

A plum picker up at Kokee this weekend reported that not too many pickers headed up to the highland area during the inaugural weekend.

The season opened Saturday and runs through Sunday, Aug. 3.

A prediction by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Forestry Division, gave an outlook of a below average to poor plum harvest due to uneven rainfall. Even so the DLNR issued about 250 permits the first day and more than 1,000 in total permits issued for the summer season.

It was said that last summer many plums were stung by insects and that the trees were bare when the season opened.

However, this year following a number of solid rains on the Westside over the past 12 months, the plums are dangling sweetly on the branches with few blemishes.

Those who have fun crawling and tromping through muddy and thorny trails will get their prize n handfuls of perfectly juicy, red plums. And, there are some still-green plums on the branches, perfect for making the Japanese dish ume, or pickled plum.

Pickers using homemade pole pickers have the best chance at getting at plump fruit on the plum treetops. Traditionally, the poles are topped with a basket fashioned out of a net or cloth at the business end. The strategy of plum picking is: Position the picker at the branch, and pull.

The Kokee plum trees were planted throughout the park in the 1930s to provide a trailside treat for hikers and mountaineers. Many of the hiking trails in Kokee are lined with plum trees, including “Water Tank Trail,” “Berry Flats” and “Kokee Trail.”

Plum picking permits are required and available at the park headquarters at the entrance to the main park and pavilion near the Kokee Museum. Maps that depict the designated areas and weather conditions are also available.

Harvesting plums at Kokee is allowed from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. daily and the limit is 5 pounds per person per day. The fruits can only be picked for personal consumption. For more information call the State Parks office in Lihue at 274-3444.