News & Updates

Watching Kamea Hadar the lead director of Pow Wow Hawaii, an annual gathering of artists from all over the world was amazing.  They are transforming warehouse spaces in Honolulu by painting murals, and even creating classrooms, darkrooms, housing artists in un-seaworthy boats on his family land, when they come to paint.  He and another guy…

It’s time for TedxMaui 2013. When I first heard of Tedxtalks I hadn’t a clue. I’d heard they were going on all over the United States and the world. People were giving the twenty minute talk of their life about technology, education and design. They were meant to inspire, enlighten and make this world a better place. I watched a few talks, one about vulnerability, how it was okay to be vulnerable human beings, others by inventors and designers of amazing sculptures that intrigue and shock one to move and rescue as it appears to fall and then rights itself. A twelve year old talked of sustainability and neighborhood gardens in New York City. Award winning journalist Amy Cortese spoke about Locavesting and how a community could be transformed by investing in the local businesses within a fifty mile radius….

In Hawaii it’s hard to imagine there is winter. But we feel the subtle changes in the air. It’s cooler, the surf starts to get big on the North shore, we begin to feel the excitement of the holidays and the arrival of the humpback whales. Then come the visitors in a sudden arrival to…

That mean so much Lavender in bloom The scent of tuber roses Pumpkins and farms Up country Maui Sharing the beauty with friends… God is so great!     Marilyn Jansen Lopes http://mauicountryfarmtours.com 808 283-9131 @jamarilyn on Twitter http://Facebook.com/mauicountryfarmtours

Sights and Scents of Maui Maui is the most visually beautiful place The air is sensual and stimulating too Exotic flowers reach out to us to touch them. Some are soft, some fragrant, others vibrant with color and strong waxy tropical stems. Delicate plumeria fall around us waiting to be plucked and placed behind an ear. Gentle breezes draw us to the sea… The waves so relaxing to the eye, the color blue a healing touch to the spirit. Proteas from South Africa and Australia thrive on the South West slopes of Haleakala between two and four thousand feet… This island makes us feel at home… We are all from places far far away settled on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean surrounded by beauty. We must use every resource with care and ingenuity preparing for the…

Sights and Scents of Maui Maui is the most visually beautiful place The air is sensual and stimulating too Exotic flowers reach out to us to touch them. Some are soft, some fragrant, others vibrant with color and strong waxy tropical stems. Delicate plumeria fall around us waiting to be plucked and placed behind an ear. Gentle breezes draw us to the sea… The waves so relaxing to the eye, the color blue a healing touch to the spirit. Proteas from South Africa and Australia thrive on the South West slopes of Haleakala between two and four thousand feet… This island makes us feel at home… We are all from places far far away settled on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean surrounded by beauty. We must use every resource with care and ingenuity preparing for the…

I was so tickled when I got a tweet that my Twitter friend Lorraine was to be on Maui for 5 days and would love to meet me. I’d been following her awesome food blog Not Quite Nigella since 2009. She is highly creative and a total inspiration. She’s also gorgeous! I told her I’d…

It was an amazing day for Agriculture in West Maui at Piliani Kope Farm and Kaanapali Coffee Farms. The Coffee cherries were ripe for the harvest. Got a glimpse of the coffee harvesters in action and the abundant coffee cherries here ready to be transported to the mill for sorting, washing, pulping and drying. What a beautiful sight to see millions of MauiGrown Coffee cherries. Above we see cacao and the lovely Piliani Kope Farm where coffee is hand picked just as it is done in Kona for a hundred years. Greg Stille, President of Maui Coffee Association and The Hawaii Coffee Association, shows us the next node where a coffee cherry will bud on the tree. The land is rich in diversity and life. We’d love to share this with you…   ~ Marilyn   Marilyn Jansen Lopes http://mauicountryfarmtours.com…

The winds were howling in Launiupoko this morning as they blew out of the valley from the West Maui Mountains. The barn doors at Piliani Kope Farm had to be closed and Greg was roasting coffee for tomorrow’s Farmers Market. We enjoyed delicious Coffee, banana bread, chocolate chip cookies by Susy and a trek into the moist permaculture surrounding the coffee trees, to learn about growing coffee and how they do it here on Maui. Greg told us how they stump the trees to promote growth out the runners (shoots) off the coffee trees. These are gorgeous red coffee cherries almost ready to be picked. Beautiful island of Lanai below. These Koa trees bring nitrogen to the coffee trees through the roots into the soil. There is cacao growing on the property also. Love these purple flowers… Related to sweet…

It was a great day for a farm tour… The skies cleared when the winds blew the cane smoke away. The ocean was gorgeous at Ho’okipa. We thoroughly enjoyed Ali’i Kula Lavender farm and had lunch on the lower deck area where the first Kupumaui Brunch was held. Giant King Protea. I gave my own walking tour and it was so much fun. We split the tour into two parts as we trekked down the paths beyond the lavender, proteas, avocado, macadamia nut tree, ferns and geraniums to our lunch. We enjoyed our sandwiches, pineapple and lots of lilikoi. Everyone is interested in tasting passionfruit. I played ukulele for the group and they loved it. Here we are at Ulupalakua Ranch and Maui’s Winery. Another great day sharing Maui’s Agricultural Beauty. I love it. ~ Marilyn Call me to book…

Huge crowds of cattle mooing in the fields of Ulupalakua today. They were so vocal. You’ll have to hear the video clip, later. Moooo… Apparently, at Maui’s Winery they had just Processed pineapple wine and the by products were given to the cattle. They were so happy. Finally and thankfully, the VOG had left today. (smiles) We could see the islands and the blue blue ocean at Ulupalakua Ranch. It was a very nice day. More to come… The Lavender Farm, Surfing Goat Dairy, Ho’okipa, Pineapple… Aloha, Marilyn Marilyn Jansen Lopes http://mauicountryfarmtours.com 808 283-9131 @jamarilyn on Twitter

It was a gorgeous week on Maui. We immersed ourselves in flowers and nature. Ulupalakua was a beautiful green from recent rains. At the Lavender Farm we saw huge bouquets of Protea, plants full of buds and rare delicate geraniums below. Blue hydrangeas were big topiaries. Dinner plate yellow Dahlias at Kula Country Farms are some of my favorite flowers to plant in the spring. We love the country life… 808 283-9131 808 280-1621 Marilyn Jansen Lopes http://Mauicountryfarmtours.com