Tucked away in the Waiehu foothills, Polipoli Farms sits on the same ʻāina momona (fertile land) that fed generations of Native Hawaiians. As a Hawaiian-run farm, they blend indigenous and modern growing practices.
The farm grows Polynesian crops in a regenerative agroforest. Currently, they produce healthy value-added products such as Hawaiian Herbal Tea (made of māmaki and ʻulu leaves) and dried bananas.
Polipoli Farms owners Lehia Apana and her husband Brad Bayless grew up in Wailuku. “Our roots here go back many generations. We purchased our property in 2017 with hopes to one day become full-time farmers. At that time, the land was completely overgrown with invasive tree and grasses. Once the invasives were removed, we discovered traditional terraces used for growing kalo hidden beneath! This inspired us to once again grow culturally important foods on this ʻāina.
“As a Hawaiian-run farm, we are inspired by the original mahiʻai (Hawaiian farmers) of this place and today we are blending indigenous and modern growing techniques. We currently produce healthy value-added products such as our Hawaiian Herbal Tea and dried bananas and plan to expand our product line as our agroforest matures.”
Polipoli Farms’ mission is two-fold: To feed the people of Hawaiʻi the foods of Hawaiʻi; and to connect people and ʻāina so that both may thrive. In that spirit, they have hosted many school and community groups at the farm and are preparing to welcome the greater public via commercial farm tours.
Their products are available online at PolipoliFarms.com (free shipping $50+) and MauiHub.org; as well as at Wailuku Coffee Company (Wailuku and Haʻikū locations), Rooted in Wailuku, The Country Market at Maui Tropical Plantation in Waikapū, Sunshine Market Maui in Lahaina, Punakea Palms in Lahaina, 808 Wellness in Kīhei, and Monarch Collective in Makawao.
Polipoli Farms
Email: aloha@polipolifarms.com
Website: https://PolipoliFarms.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polipolifarms/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PolipoliFarms