KAPAHU LIVING FARM

Traditional Hawaiian Wetland Taro Agriculture

Kapahu Living Farm is a traditional Hawaiian wetland taro farm, managed by the Kipahulu Ohana since 1995 through a partnership agreement with Haleakala National Park.

Ancient lo‘i kalo have been cleared and restored to active production, and other “canoe plants” (Polynesian introduced crops) such as ulu (breadfruit), mai‘a (banana), ‘uala (sweet potato), ko (sugar cane), mamaki, and ‘ohi‘a ‘ai (mountain apple) are also grown.

Poi and other products from the farm are processed at our Kipahulu Kitchen for distribution into the local Maui Nui community.

Our hands-on educational programs hosts schools and community groups from Maui, other Hawaiian islands and beyond, from a partial day to several days. Please see Educational Group Hosting for more information below if you are with a group that would like to come for a farm visit, or fill out our Contact Form.

For visitors who are not part of a group, we offer a Cultural Interpretive Hike Tour.

Group Hosting

Cultural Interpretive Hike at Kapahu Living Farm

Educational Opportunities

The Kipahulu 'Ohana hosts customized hands-on educational tours and retreats at Kapahu Living Farm for schools and community or corporate groups of all ages seeking an authentic Hawaiian cultural and environmental experience.

We offer a variety of activities including taro patch weeding, planting and harvesting, pounding poi by hand, and wrapping laulau, as well as forest hikes and shoreline activities.

Hosting can be for a partial or full day, or multiple days (visiting groups can reserve the group section at Haleakala National Park's campground).

If you represent an educational or community group interested in arranging a visit, please contact us with details about your group including age range, number in the group, dates you're interested in visiting, and any specific activities you would like to participate in.

From left to right: Natalie Gates, Superintendent HNP; Tweetie Lind, Secretary/Treasurer & Program Manager KO; Scott Crawford, Executive Director KO; Polly Angelides, Chief of Interpretation & Education HNP; John Lind, Project Director KO; Mike Minn, President KO; and James Herbaugh, Kipahulu Area District Manager & KO Liaison HNP

You’ve accomplished a lot. What efforts are you most proud of?

“Opening the taro patch up at Kapahu Living Farm, which is our baby. It’s a gold mine for us spiritually, physically, educationally, culturally. It’s also where we organize people.
- Aunty Tweetie Lind