WAHINE MAKING WAVES YOU VOTED, WE COUNTED! OUR GUIDE TO THE 100 BEST RESTAURANTS, BARS, FOOD TRUCKS, LŪ‘AU, & SHAVE ICE JOINTS ON MAUI! + KIDS CAN COOK: INNOVATIVE NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION KOMODA BAKERY: 105 YEARS & COUNTING 3 TERRIFIC TEQUILA COCKTAILS Maui’s elite waterwomen tackle surf, stipends and stereotypes. The Best of Dining Issue VOLMAUIMAGAZINE.NET26NO.5US/CAN$4.95
1251 Front Street, La¯haina Along the ocean in Historic La¯haina Town1251 Front Street, La¯haina Along the ocean in Historic La¯haina Town www.oldlahainaluau.com Hawaii Magazine “This is the best lu¯‘au on Maui. I rate it the best in the state.” Featured in: Emeril Live National Geographic Traveler New York Times The Travel Channel Kahili Awards 1999 “Show”, 2000 “Attraction” Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau Voted “Best Lu¯‘au”by Maui Residents Zagat Survey “Extraordinary“Excellent”toPerfection” “Its authenticity, intimacy, hospitality, cultural integrity and sheer romantic beauty have made this Maui’s top lu¯‘au.” Frommer’s Maui For Reserved Seat Call (808) 667 – 1998
N O V E M B E R 4 & 5 , 2 0 2 2 S h o p w i t h o u r M a d e i n M a u i C o u n t y v e n d o r s f o r g r e a t g i f t s t h i s h o l i d a y s e a s o n . L I V E / H Y B R I D E V E N T 9 T H A N N U A L H A W A I I A N A I R L I N E S M A D E I N M A U I C O U N T Y F E S T I V A L PRESENTED BY: SUPPORTED BY: M a d e I n M a u i C o u n t y F e s t i v a l . c o m F O R M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N V I S I T
S E E W H A T ' S N E W I N 2 0 2 2 F i n d n e w p r o d u c t s a n d f a n f a v o r i t e s e a c h y e a r . S E E W H A T ' S N E W I N 2 0 2 2 F i n d n e w p r o d u c t s a n d f a n f a v o r i t e s e a c h y e a r .
Enjoy virtual multi-sport games or host a viewing party on a 12' x 10' screen in our Topgolf Swing Suite, with a full food and beverage menu. (808) 874-8000 MULTI-SPORT CENTER, AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUE LIKE US ON AND FOLLOW US ON AND @FSMAUI #FSMAUI
SHOP | @mauioceantreasures TICKETS | mauioceancenter.com DINE | @seascapemaui Inspiring marine stewardship & conservation for our future generations THEOFAQUARIUMHAWAI ʻ I MANŌ | shark
WE ARE A MAUI FARMING COMPANY HERE TO TRANSFORM 41,000 ACRES OF VACANT FORMER SUGAR CANE LAND INTO A THRIVING HUB OF DIVERSIFIED WWW.MAHIPONO.COMAGRICULTURE.
HAWAI‘I
our
the world. 667-LELE (5353) • Toll-free: 1-866-244-5353 (LELE) 505 Front Street, Lahaina, Maui, Hawai‘i WWW.FEASTATLELE.COM A POLYNESIAN FEAST & SHOW A musical and culinary journey to Hawai‘i, Aotearoa, Tahiti and Samoa.
AOTEAROA Land of the long white cloud, Aotearoa –New Zealand, is home to the Maori people.
and
.
beckoned explorers from
TAHITI The land of intrigue romance, has around
SAMOA “The cradle of Polynesia,” literally the sacred center of its fiery soul. We begin in our beautiful island home of Hawai‘i with chants, songs and hula
A bouquet of seasonal blooms from Waiakoa Wildflowers will brighten anyone’s day. Island Business, p.28 Pe‘ahi,massivedroppingPhotographerCover:ErikAedersnappedthisshotofMaui’sownAnnieReickertintoawaveatakaJaws,in2020. Features 28 ISLAND BUSINESS MAUI IN BLOOM Visit our three favorite flower farms. By Savy Janssen 34 MAUI STYLE WAHINE MAKING (BIG) waterwomenMaui’sWAVESelitetacklesurf,stipendsandstereotypes. By Lara McGlashan 44 HAWAIIAN SOUL THEOFHEARTBEATHULA Like rhythmgesturechoreography,andchant,conveysthestory. By WianeckiShannon 52 AT HOME KulaAnMOUNTAINSIDEMODERNindustial-stylehomegetsasleekrenovation. By Heidi Pool 16 MauiMagazine.net PHOTOGRAPHYVISIONAMBER TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS Departments 20 CONTRIBUTORS It takes a lot of talent to make Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi the magazine it is. 22 PUBLISHER’S NOTE By Diane Haynes Woodburn 24 TALK STORY Tales of Hawai‘i fresh off the coconut wireless. By Ashley Probst & Krista Garcia 94 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Looking for something to do? Here’s what’s happening. 96 WHO’S WHO These local folks are making the Maui scene. 98 PAU HANA Spam-bivalent By Tita Dining Stories by Becky Speere 62 FEATURE THE GOOD STUFF An innovative education program teaches Maui’s kids how to cook. 66 MIXOLOGY SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROCA Try these tequila cocktails crafted by the island’s top mixologists. 70 DINING GUIDE THE 2022 ‘AIPONO AWARD WINNERS The votes are in! Here’s how your favorite venues stacked up. 88 SPECIAL AWARDS We shine a spotlight on the island’s exemplary chefs, shops, citizens and restaurants. LOBSTER MAC & CHEESE Yes, please! This decadent twist on a childhood favorite from Cane & Canoe is made with three kinds of cheese, sweet chunk lobster and orecchiette pasta. Dining Guide, p.70 18 MauiMagazine.net CANOE&CANE
Kaanapali Beach Estate SitePlantation Estates | Kapalua Alaeloa Oceanfront | Napili Puunoa Estates | Lahaina Kahana Beachfront Estate “For us, our client relationship doesn’t end at the sale. It’s just the beginning.” MARY ANNE FITCH REALTOR® RB-15747 SENIOR PARTNER (808) 250-1583 soldmaui.commaryanne@soldmaui.com NAM L. LE VIET REALTOR(S) | RS-61810 GLOBAL LUXURY SPECIALIST (808) 283-9007 mauisold.comnam@mauisold.com (808) 669-1000 | 700 Office Road, Kapalua, HI 96761 - Each o ce is independently owned and operated Representing Buyers & Sellers in $1B+ Of Maui’s Finest Oceanfront, Resort, and Estate Properties. MAUI’S #1 REALTOR®
Heidi Pool is a 19-year Maui resident whose work has appeared in Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi, The Maui Concierge, Edible Hawaiian Islands and Fodor’s Maui. She serves as the general manager of Hike Maui, whose highly entertaining and educational guides have been conducting tours of the island’s most beautiful natural environments since 1983. At Home (p.52) For Nina Kuna, photographing Maui’s striking people, places and cuisine has been the highlight of her 16 years on the island. She also creates engraved gifts and novelties, selling them through her online shop. Kuna enjoys playing mom to her cat and three ducks, and loves gardening with her husband in her spare time. theengraver.etsy.com | ninamauiphotography.com Hawaiian Soul (p.44)
Born and raised on Maui, Ashley Probst had her first article published by The Maui News when she was in middle school. Her writing has since been featured in MauiTime, Insider and Newport Beach Magazine. She’s also a professional tarot-card reader. ashleyprobst.com | IG @ashley.kepala Talk Story (p.24)
HI 96793; (808) 242-8331. ISSN 2473-5299 (print) | ISSN 2473-5469 (online) ©2022 Haynes Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reprinted and/or altered without the written permission of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising matter. Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs are welcome, but must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The publisher assumes no responsibility for care and return of unsolicited material. Individual issues are available upon written request at $4.95 per issue plus postage. Yearly subscriptions: U.S., $24; Canada, $44; Foreign, $64. Payable in U.S. currency. Publishers of Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi and Kā‘anapali magazines Publisher Diane Haynes Woodburn Group Publisher Michael Haynes Creative Director John Giordani Editor-in-Chief Lara McGlashan EDITORIAL Consulting Editor Rita Goldman Dining Editor Becky Speere Website Manager Adelle Lennox Digital Media Contributor Tori Speere MARKETING & ADVERTISING Sales Manager Brooke Tadena Sales Associate Benjamin Barreras Advertising Sales (808) 242-8331 ADMINISTRATION Controller Kao Kushner Subscriptions & Office Manager Nancy Wenske NEWSSTAND SALES & CIRCULATION Subscription Inquiries Toll-Free: (844) 808-MAUI Subscribe.MauiMagazine.net(6284) National MagNet, National MagNet, Disticor Magazine Distribution Services Hawai‘i MagNet In-Room Maui Circulation CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kathy Collins, Krista Garcia, Savy Janssen, Lara McGlashan, Heidi Pool, Ashley Probst, Becky Speere, Chris Speere, Shannon Wianecki CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Erik Aeder, Amber Vision Photography, Mieko Horikoshi, Nina Kuna, George W. Marshall, Shanoaleigh Marson, Ryan Siphers E-MAIL: Info@MauiMagazine.net Moving? Send address changes to: Haynes Publishing Group, 90 Central Ave., Wailuku, HI, 96793. Please note: If your magazine is undeliverable, Haynes Publishing has no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year of notification.
environmental leader
20 MauiMagazine.net
Chef Krista Garcia studied English literature at the University of Oregon, and initially attended the Napa Valley Cooking School to hone her food-writing skills. While there, she discovered that she actually had a passion for cooking. Garcia currently serves as the culinary-experiences chef of the Treehouse at Hotel Wailea. chefkristagarcia.com Talk Story (p.26) There’s a saying known in the Islands: Maui nō ka ‘oi, Hawaiian for “Maui is the best.” We hope you think so, too.
Erik Aeder had his first image published in Surfer magazine in 1972, and three years later he moved to Maui. During his five decades on island, Aeder has witnessed the evolution of water sports such as surfing, kiting, windsurfing and stand-up paddling, and can’t wait to see what comes next. He is continually inspired by Maui’s natural beauty, and is grateful to be able to share the aloha. erikaeder.com Maui Style (p.34)
CONTRIBUTORS
Here are some of the folks who make our magazine nō ka ‘oi (the best).
Maui Nō Ka 'Oi Sappi, an whose the Forest Stewardship Council and Sustainable Forestry Initiative. 90 Central Ave., Wailuku,
Magazine is printed on acid- and chlorine-free paper from
paper products comply with
Wailea TheMasters, Kaanapali Makena Kapalua MakeyourMaui dreamareality. Maui's resort areas each offer ownership opportunities for condominiums, homes and land. Contact us to learn more about the amenities and real estate offerings in Maui's resorts, including the Masters, a charming golf coursecommunity in Kaanapali Hillside. CourtneyM.Brown Realtor® (S), ePRORS-56519 808.250.0210 I luxuryrealestatemaui.com cb@luxuryrealestatemaui.com Usethe QR codeto exploreour entire listingportfolio. HeidiE.Dollinger Realtor® (B),RSPSRB-23187 808.359.4245 heidi@islandsothebysrealty.com ISLAND SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONALREALTY I 5095NAPILIHAU STREETSUITE 113 ALAHAINA, HAWAII96761 © 2022 Sotheby's International Realty. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby's International Realty® is a registered trademark and used with permission. Each Sotheby's International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except thoseoperatedby Sotheby's International Realty, Inc.Allofferingsaresubjecttoerrors,omissions,changesincludingpriceor withdrawalwithoutnotice. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Suddenly, I can't wait to share our kalo with family and friends. I hope you find the time to gather with your own loved ones sooner than later, and in the tradition of lū‘au, share, laugh and celebrate the regenerative spirit of humanity.
Jamie and I arrive at the farm, and I pause to admire our hundreds of beautiful kalo plants.
You can find the results right here, in the pages of this special ‘Aipono Issue. Among those honored are Taylor Ponte, our youngest Chef of the Year to date; Peter Merriman, Lifetime Achievement recipient and one of the original founders of Hawai‘i Regional Cuisine; and Doris “Mama" Christenson (1926-2021), matriarch of Mama's Fish House and our Icon Award winner. Have a look through the list to see if your favorite place made the cut — and to decide which restaurant you want to try next.
A hui hou, PUBLISHER’S NOTE Lahaina w Makawao w Pa'ia The Shops at Wailea BRING HAWAI‛I HOME. www.mauihands.com Fine Art, Sculpture & Glasswork Ceramics, Furniture & Hawaiian Crafts Unique Jewelry, Home Goods & More 22 MauiMagazine.net
HORIKOSHIMIEKO
Diane Haynes Woodburn, Publisher
That’salotofTaro!
“Let's go,” urges my husband, Jamie. “The kalo [taro] is thirsty!” Like much of the country, the weather in Kula has been uncharacteristically hot and dry. Not a great situation when you have 400 potted taro plants that need daily watering. So each afternoon, Jamie and I jump into his truck and take the five-minute drive to our family garden to water the rows and rows of kalo Why did we plant so many? I keep asking myself the very same thing, and to be fair, it seemed like a great idea six months ago, when we were planning our 2022 ‘Aipono Restaurant Awards. Since the theme was “lū‘au," it was organic (pun intended) and fitting to offer each guest a kalo plant as a parting gift. A labor of love? You betcha.
“Poi represents the ancestors,” said Hailama Farden, professor of Hawaiian language at Kamehameha Schools, when we interviewed her in 2007. “It is traditionally served in an ‘umeke, a communal bowl with a cover. When the lid is taken off ... the spirit of Hāloa, ancestor of the Hawaiian people, is present.”
Kalo holds a special place in Hawaiian culture. According to the Kumulipo, the Hawaiian creation chant, the first son of Wakea (the god of light and the heavens) was stillborn. After the child's burial, a plant grew from his grave — the very first kalo. Hāloa, kalo's younger brother, thrived, and was the first Hawaiian. So, in essence, kalo was the protective older brother who nourished his sibling, and thus the Hawaiian people.
With these 400 plants, it is our hope that Hāloa will join us in celebration of Maui's restaurant royalty at our ‘Aipono Awards lū‘au, sharing the aloha while raising funds for the Maui Food Bank and the University of Hawai‘i Maui College's culinary arts program. More than 90 awards will be given to Maui's best chefs, restaurants, icons and innovators in more than 40 categories, as voted on by you, our readers.
Revered for its mana (life force), kalo is a staple of the Hawaiian diet. Its leaves can be steamed and added to savory dishes, and its root, or tuber, is the basis for poi, the most recognizable Hawaiian food at the lū‘au table.
Kalo self-replicates through huli (offshoots), and a single plant can last for many generations.
“It’s reassuring isn’t it?” I remark rhetorically. “All these plants, propagated from our little taro patch.” I think about the last several years of uncertainty and hardship. We are finally turning the corner, and ahead, I see a glimmer of promise, a propitious season of health and harvest.
Sam Utley (808)Sam@IslandSothebysRealty.comRB-23179344-7927|minoandsam.com
Ensconced at 4,200 ft. amidst Kula's mist shrouded ranchlands, this 5-acre property holds a timeless charm that dates all the way back to the Territory of Hawaii and harkens a bygone era. Designed by Vladimir Ossipoff- the renowned architect who at one time was called "the master of Hawaii modern architecture" -the home encapsulates his design aesthetics of suiting a home to its surroundings.
Meet 'Cloudbank,' a Mid Century Ossipoff
© 2022 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. The Sotheby’s International Realty trademark is licensed and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. The Sotheby’s International Realty network fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully.
It's one thing to own a home in Hawaii, but another to own part of its past. This incomparable kamaaina property is historically-and literally-on another level.
Mino McLean (808)Mino@IslandSothebysRealty.comRB-21623283-9613|minoandsam.com
• Can fly up to 60 miles per hour
Listen closely in any forest on Maui and you may hear an ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, a Hawaiian hoary bat, vocalizing in the night. These nocturnal, tree-dwelling creatures are the only endemic terrestrial mammal in Hawai‘i, and even though they’re found on all the major islands, they are considered endangered.
• Has a wingspan of 10 to 13 inches
Fresh off the coconut wireless
Help preserve ‘ōpe‘ape‘a by planting flowering foliage to attract insects, and avoid the use of harmful pesticides. Keep old-growth trees rather than cutting them down, replace barbed wire with smooth, and forego the use of “bat houses,” which often attract rats rather than the intended occupants.
HoaryHawaiianBat
24 MauiMagazine.net STARRKIM&FOREST STORY SPECIES ON THE BRINK
To catch a glimpse of a hoary bat, “watch a lone streetlight,” says Bagshaw.
Hoary bats arrived in the Hawaiian archipelago about 10,000 years ago, and likely had a little help making the trans-Pacific trek. “Bats climb to very high altitudes while feeding,” says Jeff Bagshaw, commu nications and outreach specialist with the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife. “A few may have gotten caught in a big storm system that gave them quite a ride across the sea.”
Though the tropics offer bat-friendly foliage and insects aplenty, ‘ō‘pe‘ape‘a have a number of predators, including pueo (Hawaiian shorteared owls), ‘io (Hawaiian hawks), mongooses, rats and feral cats. They also suffer from habitat loss, collisions with wind turbines, snags on barbed wire, and insecticides, which decimate their food source.
TALK
Females give birth while hanging upside down, and mom carries the pups piggyback until they’re nearly grown. “As adults, however, ‘ō‘pe‘ape‘a are loners, which makes it extremely difficult to determine population sizes and locations,” says Bagshaw.
Story by Ashley Probst
• Most often gives birth to twins
The ‘ō‘pe‘ape‘a is covered in dense, reddish-brown fur with silvery frosted tips. Its pelt thrusts forward like a pompadour over its cute(ish), mousy face, but when it opens its mouth, all semblance of cute dissipates in a grimace of sharp, pointed teeth. Fortunately, hoary bats are insectivores, and only use those teeth to snag bugs on the fly while hunting from dusk to dawn.
• Weighs half an ounce
“Moths are attracted to the light and bats are attracted to the moths. And if a bat gets eaten by a pueo, well, then it’s a complete ecosystem.”
• The official state land mammal of Hawai‘i
WENDY R PETERSON Realtor® (S) RS-61995 808.870.41141 wendyricepeterson.com wendy@islandsothebysrealty.com Forthose lookingforward. MAUI'S SURFING GOAT DAIRY • Successful agri-tourism business • 42 acres of bi-coastal ocean views • 18 National cheese awards • Establishedlivestock, farm & dairy • Giftshop and deli OFFERED AT $5.9M KATE PETERSON Realtor® (S) RS-83528 808.344.7927 I propertiesofmaui.com kate@islandsothebysrealty.com © 2022 Sotheby's International Realty. All Rights Reserved. EachSotheby's International Realty officeis independently owned and operated, except those operatedby Sotheby's International Realty, Inc. The Sotheby's International Realtynetworkfullysupportstheprinciplesofthe Fair Housing Actandthe EqualOpportunityAct.Allofferingsaresubjecttoerrors,omissions,changesincludingpriceorwithdrawalwithoutnotice. :ii: en It) en .... 00 .... en M :ti: @ ti) ...I :ii: <( ...I :::) ::,i:: LI.I ti) :::) 0 :::c: :ii: 0::: <( LL. :::c: I<( ID N C LI.I ID M
26 MauiMagazine.net SIPHERSRYAN
Celebrates 105 Years Story by Krista Garcia In the heart of Makawao Town, there’s a shop that has survived five wars, 19 presidents and a global pandemic. For decades, it has opened at 7 a.m., five days per week, and even though you won’t find it on the internet or social media — and the storefront is unmarked — after 105 years, Komoda Store and Bakery shows no sign of slowing down.
Komoda Store and Bakery
In 1947, soon after returning from World War II, Takezo’s son Ikuo went to baking school in Minnesota under the G.I. Bill. Upon his return, the store expanded its offerings to include Chantilly cakes, pies, butter rolls, cream puffs and their now-famous stick donuts. “In the beginning, people only wanted the [typical] donut and we had all these donut balls floating around in the oil,” says Shibuya. “So my uncle decided to put them on a stick and sell them like that. Now hardly anybody wants the [regular] ones!”
Sweet Memories
In 1990, Shibuya’s husband, Calvin, retired from the Air Force and learned the business from Ikuo. The Shibuyas still run Komo da’s today, and are looking to the next generation to take over so they can Thoughretire.they don’t take phone orders and remain staunchly analog in a digital world, the family likes it that way. The inside of the shop is dim and old-school, and the glass display cases that once housed nails, clothing and housewares are now filled with memorabilia. Workers still begin their shifts at 10 p.m. and spend all night creating baked goods by hand, including 400 cream puffs — which are still made with Ikuo’s original recipe — and 200 malasadas. And as they have for years, customers still arrive early, before the store even opens, and patiently wait in line to snag their favorite treats before they sell out, which they always do.
TALK STORY → day in the life Betty and Calvin Shibuya stand behind the counter at Komoda Store and Bakery in June 2022.
Komoda’s is such an institution that in 2022, Mayor Mike Victorino declared Janu ary 21 Komoda Store and Bakery Day. So if you’re taking a trip Upcountry, leave a little earlier and stop by this iconic store to sample the treats that have been sweeten ing our lives for more than a century. 3674 Baldwin Ave., Makawao | 808.572.7261 Closed Sundays and Wednesdays; all other days, open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In 1916, Takezo Komoda and his wife, Shigeri, opened the first iteration of the enterprise, Komoda Store and Coffee Sta tion, in the building where Polli’s Mexican Restaurant is today. Takezo had come to Maui to work on the sugar plantations, but, according to his granddaughter Betty Shibuya, he didn’t like the heat, and was much happier selling saimin, coffee and sandwiches out of his Upcountry store. In the 1940s, Komoda’s relocated to its current location at 3674 Baldwin Avenue and expanded the business to accom modate the local paniolo (cowboys) and plantation workers. “Since it was the only store in this area, we also sold nails, clothes, horseshoes, chicken feed and kerosene,” says Shibuya. “I remember that the cowboys would come right up to the store on their horses.”
Paradise Lahaina Papa‘aina Restaurant Enjoy the hospitality of Maui’s plantation era at the historic Pioneer Inn on Lahaina Harbor. Best Western Pioneer Inn, 658 Wharf Street, Lahaina (808) 661-3636 www.pioneerinnmaui.com Plenty of Places to Shop with over 14 Retailers ∏ Restaurants ¹SHOPPING * DINING * ACTIVITIES * MODERN ACCOMMODATIONS Banyan Treats
The combination of Maui’s variable topography and the prevailing trade winds creates a surprising array of microclimates, from lush and rainy Ha‘ikū, to warm and sunny Kīhei, to Haleakalā’s cloud-clad slopes. Each setting provides the ideal growing conditions for particular kinds of flora, and farms all across Maui are bursting with blooms. So relax, slow down and smell the roses — or rather, the ginger, the tuberose and the plumeria — as we share three of our floral favorites.Story by Savy Janssen
28 MauiMagazine.net FLORALSMAUI ISLAND BUSINESS
MauiBloomin
This page: Snapdragons, strawberries and pink morning glories make for a happy summer arrangement by Waiakoa Wildflowers. Pink mink protea steal the Upcountry spotlight at Maui Floral.
Opposite:
Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Sep-Oct 2022 29 PHOTOVISIONAMBER
KREIDERZENAOFCOURTESYOTHERS/PHOTOVISIONAMBERMIDDLE:
They also embrace the ephemerality of their work by encouraging buyers and brides to order arrangements that align with the seasons.
Waiakoa Wildflowers has since blossomed. In addition to their regular stall at the Upcountry Farmer’s Market, the Kreiders offer monthly floral subscriptions, bouquets and wedding arrangements — all free of floral foam and plastic. They also hold workshops on crafting seasonal wreaths, brush brooms and lei po‘o, a circle of flowers worn on the head.
Organic farming has taught the sisters to see humor in the face of adversity, for example, when a sudden weevil invasion killed a whole crop of ranunculus. “As soon as you feel a little too confident, nature reminds you,” says Zena. “We are humbled by it constantly.”
“We want to allow the serendipity of nature to unfold,” says Zena. Waiakoa Wildflowers | 808.283.3316 or 808.280.7617 | waiakoawildflowers.com | IG @waiakoa.wildflowers
In 2014, the self-taught farmers/florists pooled their money and took a sum total of $200 to Kula Hardware & Nursery, where they bought as many dahlias as they could afford. Why dahlias? “I’m a sucker for plants that are sort of expensive,” says Zena. Tessa adds that their mother grew dahlias when they were kids.
At the end of a winding road in lower Kula, sisters Zena and Tessa Kreider tend to row after row of dahlias, chrysanthemums, lilies, snapdragons and sweet peas, which nod and sway in the breeze at Waiakoa Wildflowers Farm.
The Wild Life
From top: A plot at Waiakoa Wildflowers bursts with seasonal blooms. Owners/sisters Zena (left) and Tessa Kreider have always enjoyed artistic pursuits, from gardening to songwriting to sewing. Attentiongrabbing dahlias such as these were the first flowers the Kreiders grew.
30 MauiMagazine.net
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