Hānau ka Ulu Lā‘au Ola Mau nā Hua
Born is the forest, long live the seeds
Nestled between two gulches, you will find Hōkūnui Maui in the green, rolling hills, just upslope of Makawao town. In the Hawaiian language, the name of a place tells a story. Makawao literally translates to forest beginning, and it is from the history of this ‘āina that Hōkūnui Maui takes its direction to restore the fertility and productivity of the land.
The land at Hōkūnui was once a diverse native forest that included koa, ohia, halapepe and olopua. The land use of the property has evolved over time from native forest to traditional dryland agriculture to sugar and pineapple cultivation to ranching.
Today, Hōkūnui Maui is creating a regenerative farming community that integrates community, culture, forestry and livestock. In our forestry and livestock programs, we are applying best practices from regenerative and Hawaiian farming in order to re-establish native habitat, regenerate the soil and provide food for our community. The infrastructure and housing at Hōkūnui Maui incorporates green building materials and technologies, alternative energy and self-sufficient water sources.
And, we are cultivating a community of people who value a reverent connection to the land, to each other and the Hawaiian culture.
Hōkūnui Maui operates with a Regenerative Quadruple Bottom Line (QBL®) philosophy—balancing environment, community and culture with financial viability. The financial model at Hōkūnui Maui utilizes profits from home sales to provide a stable land base for the perpetuation of forestry, agriculture and cultural activities.
Our vision is to have a thriving and regenerative relationship between community and agriculture.
Our mission is to re-establish a diverse native and endemic Hawaiian habitat and foster a productive agricultural operation, integrating a small community of sustainable residential homes.
COMMUNITY
Regenerative agriculture—forestry, agroforestry and livestock—is at the center of the Hōkūnui community. Our regenerative philosophy means that all of the elements in the system—land, people, plants, animals, water and energy—interact and support one other in growing. Our agrihood will be complete with the addition of a Farm Store, outdoor pizza oven, gathering space and community garden, so the community can enjoy one other and the abundance of the land. Hōkūnui values diversity and practices inclusivity. As a part of the wider Maui community, Hōkūnui strives to be a good neighbor and responsible business.
FORESTRY
Hōkūnui and its partners have made a long-term commitment and investment in re-creating native habitat on twenty-acres of land. The forestry team at Hōkūnui has developed a unique system of companion planting short-term, food producing crops with long-term native trees in order to produce traditional food for the community while establishing a native forest. Working closely with Hālau Ke‘alaokamaile, the Hawaiian community has been engaged in the planning and planting of the native forest. The goal is for the forest to be an accessible resource for cultural practitioners, providing plant material for Hawaiian cultural practices and education. More…
HAWAIIAN CULTURE
At Hōkūnui we respect the Hawaiian culture as our host culture. We manage the land in the spirit of stewardship as opposed to ownership. There is a deep connection between kanaka and ‘āina and an inextricable link between Hawaiian agriculture and culture. Hōkūnui is honored to partner with Hālau Ke‘alaokamaile on the forestry program and to be the site for the permanent home of the Hālau Ke‘alaokamaile Cultural Resource Center. More…
RANCHING
Holistic management practices are employed at Hōkūnui to work in harmony with sheep and cattle on the land to: restore soil health, manage pastureland and provide high-quality protein to the community. Hōkūnui manages a first-rate breeding program with our white Dorper sheep, and we are currently undergoing the organic certification process for our high-quality lamb. More…
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Our housing designs—which incorporate green building materials and technologies, alternative energy and self-sufficient water sources— meet or exceed the standards of leading green building rating systems. The land footprints of the homes are designed in order to maximize common agricultural land. High-end, affordable and worker housing are integrated in order to foster a diverse community. A combination of farm roads, residential roads and trails support alternative transportation, such as: biking, walking, electric vehicles and horseback riding. More…
WATER & ENERGY
Water and energy self-sufficiency are paramount at Hōkūnui. Our water self-sufficiency plan includes an on-site well for potable water, an integrated roadway and pond system for capturing water for agricultural use, and roof catchment for other non-potable uses. Hōkūnui is striving to be a fossil fuel-free community. Farm operations and water pumps are powered by an off-grid solar system with biodiesel generator backup. Farm equipment runs on biodiesel or solar electric. Each home will be energy independent with its own off-grid solar energy system.
