Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Back to News & Updates

The WEST MAUI FARM TOUR

LAHAINA ANIMAL FARM, MAUI DRAGON-FRUIT FARM and Simpli-Fresh FARM TOUR

ripe coffee cherries at Piliani Kope Farm photo by Marilyn Jansen LopesAloha everyone, our West Maui Farm Tour has changed due to the Kaʻanapali Coffee Farms closing to the public recently.  The coffee Berry borer wiped out one third of the crop in Kona and was discovered on Oahu at the Dole Plantation and we do not want it to spread to Maui. It could be devastating.

It’s so sad not to be able to wander into the coffee trees but we visit these gorgeous farms in Launiupoko and were thrilled to meet Teresa Waters of the Lahaina Animal Farm and Crystal of the Maui Dragonfruit Farm. We are offering the new tours to these locations and finishing at the MauiGrown Coffee Company Store and Simpli Fresh Farm at the top of the scenic Lahaina Bypass Highway.

We Pick up at Kahului Harbor 8:30 AM, Whole Foods Market 70 Ka`ahumanu Ave. 8:45 AM and Lahaina Harbor 9:15 AM then we travel to Launiupoko to Lahaina Animal Farm. Teresa Waters with Kelsie and Baby DollWe start with an introduction to the gorgeous farm 500 ft. above the sea. Then we meet Ramsey the Ram, beautiful horses, Elsie Mae the young donkey, Baby doll, a miniature horse who is barefoot and pregnant all the time. (They breed horses as assistance animals because they live much longer than assistance dogs) The property is magnificent with a gorgeous guest ranch home (that people can rent) backed to the West Maui Mountains and Launiupoko Gulch. There are designer chickens, ducks, a tilapia pond with fat healthy fish, a garden, aDSC_0011 lilikoi gazebo, a seven year old tortoise named Hulk, and his girlfriend, a couple of friendly pigs, Rhode Island Reds, sweet goats and it’s immaculate. We enjoy the walk and meeting all the animals then some fresh squeezed lilikoi juice in the shade.

photo 3(3)Everyone wants to stay and stay but we give our aloha to all the animals and head on our way to the Maui Dragon Fruit Farm

 

DSC_0003

 

 

 

 

photo 4(3)

DSC_0021

We can see the blue blue sea and the island of Lanai from this unique place where they have planted the dragon fruit cactus which produces beautiful exotic flowers then fruits. They are seasonal, so eventually they will offer Dragon fruit added value products for purchase in the beautiful bamboo house where we will sample Maui Gold Pineapple year round and Dragon fruit when in season (July-November). DSC_0059 DSC_0063 DSC_0053DSC_0043We’ll explore the 26 acres from their lookout platform overlooking the dragonfruit and their zip-line and rolling ball that people adventure on other activity tours.

Then it’s off to the Launiupoko Beach Park for a picnic lunch followed by coffee and cookies at the MauiGrown Coffee Company Store. You’ll learn about growing coffee beans, harvesting and the art of processing coffee, from picking, drying, pulping to roasting and tasting the fresh roasted Coffee. There are four varieties of coffee grown here.green coffee cherries Red Catuai is said to be the Cabernet of coffee by certain coffee writers. Yellow Caturra has a yellow cherry unlike the typical red coffee cherry and has spicy undertones. ripe coffee cherries at Piliani Kope Farm photo by Marilyn Jansen LopesThey grow Typicas which are from the original coffees brought to Kona, but are grown on Maui. Finally, the Maui Mokka is grown nowhere else in the world. It was originally from Ethiopia and cultivated in Yemen. The Mokka on Maui is a hybrid grown only on Maui. It is rare and wonderful with chocolaty undertones when the cherries are aged an additional six months to bring out the flavors. The wonderful picnic lunch with sandwiches provided by Whole Foods Kahului chosen at time of booking. (Choices are: Turkey-Bacon-Avocado-Spinach-Aioli, Classic Italian, or Veggie) and Fresh island fruits and juices.Kaanapali-Coffee-Farms our van

This is a photo of the four different varieties of coffee growing at Kaʻanapali Coffee Farms. In the MauiGrown Coffee Company Store, you’ll learn how they harvest the rare Mokka Variety which is gaining notoriety as a MauiGrown Coffee. In the past, If we were lucky we got to observe some of the harvesting process. With such a large acreage it must be done by machines that go through the rows and rows of coffee trees. Its a rich adventure.

You can shop at The Maui Grown Coffee Company Store for gifts and meet Jeff Ferguson who manages the store. (closed Sundays) You can ship coffee home directly from the store.

Then we’ll be heading up Lahainaluna Road to James and Janell Simpliciano’s Farm “SIMPLI FRESH” to explore all they grow, which is just about everything from sweet potatoes, taro, bananas, papaya, ti leaves, tomatoes, lemongrass, watercress, star fruit, mango and so much more. They’ve found old watercress patches planted by Chinese immigrants during the sugar eras of one hundred and sixty years on Maui. Sugar cane from some the original Hawaiian Canoe crops have been discovered on these slopes of West Maui where inside this range of mountains is the second wettest place on earth. Many streams came out of these mountains supporting life for over one thousand  years.

Then we cruise through quaint Lahaina Town back to the Harbor at 2PM and Kahului by 3PM. You’ll return with a memory for life. Tour 5 hours. Cost of Tour: $175.00 Call Marilyn at 808 283-9131 to book your farm tour. Lahaina pick ups are included on the West Maui Farm Tours.

(Private tours $225.00 per person will be customized for you.) 2012-09-03 11.35.072012-09-02 10.21.40