Buyer's Guide
Farmstop.com
 
 

Aloha AgriTour-Hawaii 2007

(You've found our 2007 tour-click here for 2008 information)

Our Farmstops

 

Mililani Farmers' Market, Oahu

This food bazaar is presented weekly by the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation and the Mililani High School. It is a true gathering of farmers who truck in fresh produce from all over the island, including specialty items not normally found in supermarkets.

Dole Plantation, Oahu

We will be taking a Private, guided Garden Tour and Plantation Train Tour. Pineapples are planted and picked by hand, taking 13-18 months to grow. The plantation plants 27,000 to 33,000 pineapples per acre. You'll be amazed by their central maze, the railroad, and other tourist-centered features.

Paomoho Farm, Oahu

Largest certifed organic farm on Oahu, overlooking the North Shore and nestled between Mt Ka'ala and Poamoho Gulch. The farm specializes in most of the tropical fruits such as mango, apple banana, papaya, lychee, longan, avocado, breadfruit, jackfruit, herbs and most of the citrus as well as the only organic asparagus grower in the state. They liaison with scientists to conduct organic trials and provide other educational oportunities, and currently supply local health food stores, the military commissaries and small retailers as well as conduct farm tours.

Paradise Cove Luau

Perhaps it is not a farmstop, but this certainly will be a highlight of the pre-cruise. A tropical Mai Tai greeting and live Hawaiian music set the festive mood of the evening. Casually stroll through the Hawaiian Village and learn the Arts & Crafts of the islands or test your skills at our Hawaiian Games.

Participate in the Hukilau on the Beach, witness the pageantry of the Royal Court Procession and the time-honored techniques of underground oven cooking at the Imu Ceremony. Award-winning performers will entertain and amaze you with an unforgettable display of songs and dances of Hawai'i and Polynesia at the incomparable Paradise Cove Extravaganza.

Hawaiian Vanilla Company

Here is a farm where the crop sells for $190 a pound. The Reddekopps, proprietors of the 8 year-old Hawaii Vanilla Company, produce Grade A vanilla beans. (Did you know that vanilla comes from an orchid?) Jim and Tracy Reddekopp not only grow vanilla beans, they also have a commercial kitchen and dining room, and offer gourmet luncheons, afternoon tea and vanilla tastings. Jim understands the tourism business and was one of the first to offer tours for cruise ship passengers.

Wailea Agriculture Group

Located on former sugarcane land is the Wailea Agricultural Group Inc., which grows Hearts of Palm, tropical fruits and flowers north of Hilo. Hawaiian Heart of Palm is used in many culinary dishes, including Mediterranean style with pasta and Pacific Rim cuisine with chilies and spices. It is sometimes served raw, thinly sliced, as in salads, steamed, or in stir fry.

Started in 1994 the company also illustrates another trend in Hawai'i agriculture - a high percentage of women farmers.

Green Point Nursery

This is one of Hilo’s largest tropical cut flower producers, specializing in anthuriums, gingers, heliconias, birds of paradise, orchids and tropical foliages. In order to guarantee their premium flowers, owner Eric Tanouye will show you how all their custom order flowers are freshly cut, carefully selected and precisely packed for shipment to the mainland.

Alii Kula Lavender

Alii Chang is the “lavender visionary” for Ali’i Kula Lavender Farms in Maui, Hawaii. The 50-minute walking tour through rolling fields of lavender is an absolute must for any visitor to the islands. Though lavender is not native to Hawaii, Chang has successfully cultivated more than 45 different varieties for taste and aroma. Nestled along the skirt of Haleakala, the view from the lavender farm is absolutely breath taking.

Tedeschi Winery, at the Ulupalakula Ranch

On the road to Tedeschi Vineyards, we'll see the tiny, rural communities, rolling green pastureland, great distinguished trees, majestic mountain vistas, and sublime seascapes below, until we arrive at one of the most historic buildings on the island of Maui, the King's Cottage. It was built specifically for the visit of Hawaii's monarch David Kalakaua and queen Kapi'olani.

The centerpiece of the Tasting Room is an eighteen-foot-long bar cut from the trunk of a single mango tree. The outlying grounds, shaded by trees more than a hundred years old, retain the buildings and landmarks of a fascinating bygone era. This is the landscape of old Rose Ranch, one of Hawai'i's most prosperous and admired nineteenth-century sugar plantations as well as the headquarters of present-day 'Ulupalakua Ranch, home of the Paniolo or Hawaiian cowboy.

Surfing Goat Dairy

On Maui, we are going to visit The Surfing Goat Dairy and meet the owners, Thomas & Eva Kafsack. Winners of 13 national cheese-making awards, they sell over 50% of their cheese on site at their 42-acre farm. Even more important, they have spent time building a great network with the islands chefs so that Surfing Goat cheese is featured in hotels and restaurants. They also work closely with the Culinary Academy on Maui, and students of every class are spending a day at the dairy to learn about goats and goat cheese.

Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company

Generations of Big Island farmers have gently tended the fertile macadamia nut orchards that shade the verdant Hamakua coastline. In Hawaii, rich volcanic soils, abundant rainfall and perfect temperatures combine to produce the world's finest macadamia nuts. Hawaii's first commercial orchard was planted near Waipi'o Valley. Today,independent farmers continue the tradition of cultivation and processing the perfect nut. As a result, the Hamakua Coast is known for producing premium macadamia nuts that are truly the best of Hawaii's best.

Kahua Ranch

Located on the western slope of the Kohala Mountains, 3000 feet above sea level.  8,500 acres of private ranch land provides a variety of landscapes. From grazing livestock; cattle, sheep and horses to hosting visitors on a variety of ranch activities. 

Our hosts will be John and Amber Richards. We’ll learn about their current agritourism offerings, including ATV rides through both rain forests and desert (all on their ranch), horseback riding with the ranch paniolo’s, and sunset barbeques for evening guests. These evening feasts include lessons in roping, branding, and a little star gazing-guests learn why the Big Island is one of the world's leading locations for astronomy!

Merrimans Restaurant Waimea

Hawaii has been one of the first places to create a very strong farmer-chef program through their Hawaii Regional Cuisine program. We will be stopping for lunch at Peter Merriman’s restaurant.

Peter Merriman is known throughout the islands as the program innovator, working with farmers to grow the top quality produce featured on all of the islands. The chef will share with us his thinking about how important local foods are to his menu and to the tourists visiting the islands.

Honopua Farm

This picturesque family farm is located on Hawaiian Homestead lands. The Hufford family and their staff will walk us through their beautiful farm featuring organic vegetables, Waimea lavender, fresh cut flowers, and of course a peek at their classic car collection. Honopua is also the home of the renowned master lei-maker Marie McDonald, author of "Ka Lei --The Leis of Hawaii", a woman who has been singled out as a native Hawaiian "living treasure" by the Smithsonian Institute.

Kauai Coffee

Kauai Coffee Company is Hawaii's largest coffee grower, with 3,400 acres under cultivation on the southwest side of the Garden Island of Kauai.

Kauai Coffee Company began in the early 1800s as McBryde Sugar Company, one of the first sugar growers in Hawaii. Today, it is a part of Alexander & Baldwin. The transformation from McBryde to Kauai Coffee Company in 1987 was Hawaii’s largest diversified agricultural project in the past 50 years! That was the year the first coffee tree were planted. The limited plantation was a joint venture between McBryde, the grower/processer, and Hills Brothers, the roaster/marketer.

Guava Kai Plantation

The 450 acre guava orchard and state-of-the-art processing plant is located on land that was formerly part of Kilauea Sugar Company, which closed in 1970. The orchard was first planted on 150 acres; additional acres have been added to meet demand as KAI has expanded the total market for guava.

KAI now grows and processes over half of the guava crop in the State of Hawaii; at maturity the orchard will have a yield potential of over 22 million pounds.

Guava trees have a crop potential of 30,000 to 50,000 pounds per acre. The natural seasonality of guava normally results in a light spring harvest and a heavier fall crop. KAI successfully introduced full-scale crop cycling to produce mature fruit 52 weeks a year. Cycling is primarily controlled by pruning and fertilizing the guava trees.

Other Opportunities

In addition to the farm stops, we will have many opportunities to become better acquainted with the beautiful landscapes, plants, and people of Hawaii. A morning in Oahu, and full days at port in Kahului, Maui and Nawiliwili, Kauai are designated for your independent touring or participation in optional shore excursions of your choice.

We will also tour Pearl Harbor, the Arizona, and downtown Honolulu, giving you many opportunities to understand and appreciate our beautiful 50th state.

Click here to see the Day by Day Itinerary

Click here to download the full color brochure, with prices, terms, and conditions for the tour.
SOLD OUT FOR 2007

( All rates shown are U.S. Dollars)

Click here to download your reservation form.

SOLD OUT FOR 2007
(Please read terms and conditions in the 4 color brochure before sending your reservations.)