In the News

May served on many public boards and commissions in the past and was a Police Commissioner when she passed. She always looked elegant in her long muumuu and shell lei and could be seen at just about every public hearing standing up for West Maui. May was also a dedicated member of the Kaanapali Community Planning Committee.

Other residents who contributed towards shaping the vision for West Maui and who are no longer with us were:

Jim Wriston, VP for KLMC, made the decision to involve the community in the planning of Kaanapali 2020, the first time any development was extensively planned by residents. Jim was also an advocate for preserving West Maui's agricultural roots.

David Chenoweth was passionate about preserving open space, protecting marine life, and promoting environmental stewardship of the land and ocean.

Buck Buchanan was an advocate for the environment and also spoke for the welfare of our future generations.

Ed Lindsey advocated for the preservation and restoration of Hawaiian cultural lands. He was the founder of Maui Cultural Lands and led the effort to restore the cultural resources in Honokowai Valley. His wife Puanani and son Ekolu continue to do the work that Ed had started.

Eve Clute was a talented writer who shared her concerns about the need for smart growth in West Maui.

Starr Medeiros was a strong advocate for affordable housing for West Maui workers.

These shining stars unselfishly gave their time and manao to help our community. In addition to their contributions to the Kaanapali 2020 community, they also contributed towards the vision for Pu‘ukoli‘i Village which provides for affordable and senior housing as well as a major school. They were also strong advocates for a hospital to provide critical care needs for West Maui’s residents and visitors.

Today, we celebrate their legacy. We can imagine these shining stars looking down on the construction of the new hospital and nodding their heads in approval. Their light brighter than ever seeing their vision being realized one project at a time. A job well done!

Managed by Lahainaluna High School Foundation, Kaanapali Land Management Corp.'s scholarship is awarded to a Lahainaluna High School graduate who has been accepted into a four-year college or university and is planning to major in agriculture, engineering, architecture or a related field.

Anthony received a $1,000 scholarship check to help with expenses while attending the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, where he plans to focus on a math and/or science major. In addition to an impressive academic record during high school, he was also active in various extra-curricular activities: a member of the National Honor Society, Japanese Club, Robotics Club, and Anime Club. Anthony also played in Lahainaluna High School's Marching Band, Honor Band, and Hawaii All-State Marching Band.

KLM is also dedicated to supporting our island's school athletes. For the past two years, the company has contributed to all Maui high school student-athletes through the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) "Save Our Sports" program. The SOS donations are used to cover league expenses, including transportation and facility supplies and equipment.

Another community program that is helped by KLM is the Friends of Lahainaluna Football, Inc. This non-profit operates to provide support for amateur sports, actively fostering local and state football competition at the high school level and below. This year, due to the overwhelming support of the Maui community, Friends of Lahainaluna Football were able to award four $1,500 scholarships! This year's recipients are: Jared Rocha-Islas who is attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Brandon Kaina who is attending the UH Maui College; and Makoa Filikitonga-Lukela and Connor Mowat who are attending the Western New Mexico University.

But, without question, what the company is proudest of is its employees and the contributions they've made to our community over the years.

Yet there was something more about Ka‘anapali Coffee Farms that drew him to this property. He didn't realize until his home was recently completed what that extra something was — and that's tranquility.

"There's such a wonderful feeling of peace and serenity that homeowners experience living here," said Greg. "You feel like you're in your own bit of paradise. You don't hear your neighbors and you're surrounded by these incredible panoramic views and sunsets. This is truly a one-of-a-kind property."

So too is the Ka‘anapali Coffee Farms' estate that Brown recently completed and has listed for sale for $3,795,000. Named "Hale Kope", this single-level, 3,600 square foot luxury home boasts a generous open floor plan with three guest bedrooms — each with its own bath - a master suite with indoor and outdoor showers, a great room, media room, dining room and a lavish gourmet kitchen. The interior is highlighted with rich mahogany wood doors and trim, imperial plaster, granite countertops, and beautiful acacia wood floors along with warm, travertine stone tiles. A 42-foot custom swimming pool with spa and a 700 square foot detached three-car garage complete the estate. But Greg Brown is not the only one drawn to Ka‘anapali Coffee Farms. In the past 7 months, 10 properties have sold, with three more lots currently in escrow. Building activity is also abuzz with three homes in the design review process and six more owners anticipating to break ground in early 2015.

Spacious 4- to 7-acre estate lots at Kaanapali Coffee Farms are offered for sale; prices starting from $560,000.

To schedule your personal property showing of Hale Kope and the Ka‘anapali Coffee Farms community, contact Rohn Stark at (808) 870-5571 or email rohn@PlatinumPropertiesHI.com. Follow us on Facebook.

Can you update us on KLM's other projects?

Infrastructure is the theme of most of the ongoing projects. We need to become partners with the County and State in planning and developing a strategy to ensure that the infrastructure for west Maui is adequate and keeps pace with the directed growth.

We recognize the Lahaina Bypass Highway and Lahaina Flood Control Channel are two needed projects for west Maui. Both projects will impact existing land use surrounding its rights-of-way.

We are also working on the infrastructure design plans for Puukolii Village Mauka. Plan and permitting review and consultation with the various agencies and utilities are ongoing.

We continue to work with the developer on infrastructure improvements for the West Maui hospital development which is part of the Ka‘anapali 2020 master plan. The developer is committed to streamlining the schedule whenever and wherever possible in order to have a fully serviceable hospital in two years.

On the agriculture side, we are committed to the business of coffee farming through our partnership with MauiGrown Coffee. We need to constantly recognize national and international market opportunities. And as recent conditions allow, we are reinvesting into the farm with new plantings of coffee seedlings in hopes of increasing harvest yields. Currently, plantings cover approximately 500-acres in West Maui, half of which is located in the Ka‘anapali Coffee Farms community.

Successful agriculture starts with recognizing that the land and water resources are the most valuable assets. As such, we integrate best management practices in our operations. Reservoir maintenance, waterways and pipelines, and berm maintenance are just a few examples.

We will likely have a role to play in the County's efforts to expand the reuse of treated wastewater (R1 water). Along with increasing treatment quality and capacity at its Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility, the County will need to expand its distribution system so to facilitate the use of the R1 water. Pipeline routing, location of storage facilities and delivery points are a few considerations.

What do you feel are the great opportunities for KLM moving forward?

For years we've worked alongside the community in identifying growth needs for West Maui. In this effort, we're also focusing on needs that will make a positive difference for the West Maui community.

The opportunity here is to be able to balance the community's needs now with our needs in the future.

Agriculture is rich in west Maui's history and community. Most of the company's land is currently in the agriculture district. We cannot discount any opportunity that may come about related to agriculture. We may look into bio-energy development. Or we may look at alternative energy investments to subsidize an agriculture venture. The hospital development could springboard a whole new health/wellness industry to west Maui. We need to keep pace and embrace advancements in technology. We want to support developments and industries that provide good job and career opportunities.

A number of benefits prompted their decision to purchase a lot at Ka‘anapali Coffee Farms.

"We enjoy our privacy and being nestled on large acres surrounded by beautifully landscaped coffee orchards was just what we were looking for," said Brent. "We also considered the location. Our property is far from the highway, yet close enough to access it within minutes to get to various services. Even West Maui's future medical facility is only approximately two miles away."

Other new Ka‘anapali Coffee Farms' owners share their choice of real estate.

Sales activity continues to be at an all-time high. The Rainbow House, the developer's model home, recently closed escrow; eight estate lots have sold this year and interest continues to be shown by prospective buyers. Construction of new homes can also be seen throughout the community. Brent and Gilbert plan to take advantage of the community's building momentum by building their own dream home.

"Buyers are looking for real estate that is unique, a place that suits their lifestyle, and that they can call home for many years to come," said Rohn Stark, Broker for Platinum Properties HAWAII.

Gilbert and Brent couldn't agree more. Ka‘anapali Coffee Farms is their very own Napa on Maui.

Spacious 4- to 7-acre estate lots are offered to sale. Prices start from $560,000. To schedule your personal property showing, contact Rohn Stark at (808) 870-5571 or email rohn@PlatinumPropertiesHI.com. Follow us on Facebook.

MauiGrown Coffee is unique in that the farm offers both washed and natural process in each variety of coffee. Their methods for harvesting, processing and storing their varieties separately also differ from most coffee farms worldwide. This distinction has helped the company carve a new market niche and driven up the demand for 100% MAUI Origin Coffee.

In 1995, in their first year, the Kaanapali Estate sold approximately 65,000 lbs of coffee. In 2013, over 450,000 lbs of coffee were sold under the MauiGrown Coffee brand in Hawaii, the Continental U.S., Japan, Germany, Korea, Australia and Canada.

Hawaii roasters embraced MauiGrown Coffee's natural product from the get go, whereas the U.S. Mainland markets have traditionally preferred the washed product. However, the company sees a shift in this trend with more mainland roasters now carrying the natural product which may be attributed to either a taste preference and/or the company's continued efforts to perfect the handling of their natural coffees.

"Since the opening of the company's retail store in Lahaina seven years ago, we've seen the demand for these coffees quadruple," Jeff Ferguson, Co-owner of the MauiGrown Coffee Company Store. "Our niche is offering MauiGrown's natural processed coffees which our customers from around the world seem to gravitate towards. These distinct coffees offer a sweeter, fruitier flavor with occasional notes of dark chocolate and cherries."

"MauiGrown Coffee is a great example of the expansion of coffee in Hawaii," said Dave Gridley, President of Maui Oma Coffee Roasting Co. "For so long everyone growing coffee in Hawaii tried to be like the Kona varietals on the Big Island of Hawaii. Then MauiGrown Coffee came along and created their own reputation offering unique processing techniques and multiple varieties of coffee to choose from. It really opened the door for other coffee growers in Hawaii."

"It seems like only yesterday that we were knee-deep in coffee research and traveling to coffee-growing regions around the world," said Falconer. "Fast forward 25 years and fresh off our recent harvest season, I feel like we're still perfecting our craft, improving, learning and passionately involved with the Hawaii Coffee and Specialty Coffee industry in order to create a superb cup of coffee. Our varietals are like our babies and we're excited to see them growing up."

MauiGrown Coffee will be exhibiting at the 26th America Exposition in Seattle, WA on April 24-27 (booth # 10042), as well as at future Coffee Fest shows in St. Louis, MO and Portland, OR later this year. Sampling of MauiGrown Coffee's new Maui Mokka coffees will debut at the shows.

For information, contact Kimo Falconer via e-mail or call 808-357-1204, or Ci-Ci Hehemann via e-mail or call 808-870-6215. The MauiGrown Coffee Company Store is located at 277 Lahainaluna Road in Lahaina, Maui, call 808-661-2728 for information and/or store hours.

Today, MauiGrown Coffee is one of the largest commercial coffee growers in the U.S. and the original and only major producer of 100% MAUI Origin Coffee in the world. Efforts to establish a unique brand and a coveted place in the coffee world have been an amazing journey for this kama‘aina company, and the opportunity to share the fruits of their labor to a worldwide audience continues to fuel their passion.

"It seems like only yesterday that we were knee-deep in coffee research and traveling to coffee-growing regions around the world," said Falconer. "Fast forward 25 years and heading into a new harvest season, I feel like we're still perfecting our craft improving on our growing, harvesting and production methods to create a superb cup of coffee."

The company's roots began in the late 1980s. West Maui, it turned out, provided a perfect growing environment for four arabica varieties — "Yellow Caturra","Red Catuai", "Typica", and a nearly 1,000-year old variety called "Mokka". Because of the impressive results of its field trials, Pioneer Mill planted what would eventually become a 500-acre commercial coffee operation. The company built a processing plant and purchased coffee harvesting equipment. In less than a decade, Pioneer Mill renamed the operation Ka‘anapali Estate Coffee and was producing 500,000 pounds of green arabica beans annually.

Despite a tremendous amount of hard work and perseverance, continued losses in sugar proved to be the downfall of Pioneer Mill Company. But the company's commitment to preserve West Maui's agricultural roots remained steadfast. Even after Pioneer Mill closed down, landowner Kaanapali Land Management Corp. continued to maintain the coffee trees in the hopes that someone would take over and keep the land in agriculture as they had intended.

Re-enter James "Kimo" Falconer — a fifth-generation Lahaina resident with a passion for nurturing the land and for coffee in equal measure. With the help of Kaanapali Land Management Corp. and his strong resolve, the dormant Ka‘anapali Estate Coffee plantation would soon live again under the MauiGrown Coffee banner.

Today, one can visit Kaanapali Coffee Farms on the breathtaking slopes of the West Maui Mountains, home of MauiGrown Coffee. It's definitely worth a visit or you can choose to live in this master-planned community (ownership includes your very own coffee orchard!) — a place steeped in tradition and natural beauty.

With a bevy of anniversaries to celebrate this year, MauiGrown Coffee can honestly say their cup runneth over.

For information on MauiGrown Coffee, visit www.MauiGrownCoffee.com, follow them on Facebook, or visit the store at 277 Lahainaluna Rd. For information on Ka‘anapali Coffee Farms, call 888-KCF-MAUI (888-523-6284), visit www.KaanapaliCoffeeFarms.com or follow them on Facebook.