Artisan Farming and the Hawaii Life

When people think of what Hawaii life has to offer, visions of swaying coconut palms, pleasant year-round trade winds, big wave surfing, mystical sunsets, plenty of rainbows, and the aloha spirit may come to mind. Hawaii also has the perfect climate for creating positive income as an artisan farming property owner. Whether enjoying a personal passion for artisan farming or through leasing a property to others, this popular way to live the Hawaii life can be yours.

Are you ready to retire, yet still want to feel productive? Do you believe in giving back and having a positive impact on your local communities? Have you been dreaming of a way to craft and perfect growing and producing an artisan specialty while living in paradise? If so, owning and operating an artisan farm may be easier than you think with so much bountiful agricultural zoned land to be sustainably and organically cultivated in Hawaii.

Artisan Farming is Popular in Hawaii

Many artisan farmers living the Hawaii life grow fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouts and flowers to supply local vendors and customers around the world; such as chocolatier Lydgate Farms. They are known for producing cacao and award-winning chocolates in Kauai’s central Wailua Valley. Kauai Farmacy specializes in growing fresh medicinal and nutritional herbs, teas, honey, and more. They offer farm tours and are a regular hang-out to health-minded locals like big wave surfer Laird Hamilton. Kauai Farmacy also sells their homegrown products internationally online. Maui’s Ali’I Kula Lavender Farms offers tours and provides a gift shop stocked with their local crafted lavender products. Their majestic setting is also used to play host to private weddings.

Others are happy to supply their artisan crops and crafted goods to the local community through farmers markets, grocery stores, gift shops and restaurants such as Oprah’s Organics on Maui. Her farm started with just one acre yielding 145 lbs of herbs and vegetables per week and has grown considerably since. A favorite on Maui Country Farm Tours (which continue to grow in popularity), is a stop at the Surfing Goat Dairy. Here you can get artisan goat cheese hand-crafted right on the property. The possibilities are endless. You can add island charm by providing fresh, off the vine fruits to your B&B guests. Become the talk of the town by hosting small events on your farm. However, most grow tropical delicacies for their own personal enjoyment. They do because it is just so easy to in this soil and region.

Artisan Farming Tropical Fruit and Nut Wines

Can you see yourself hosting your own Hawaiian wine tours and tastings? Tourists continually look for and ask the question, “Where are the wine tours at in Hawaii?” Many visiting the garden island expect to find local Hawaiian wineries and yet, there are surprisingly few to come by, relative to the potential for producing unique tropical artisan wines, tastings, and tours. Island Mana on Oahu is crafting wines with guavas, mangos, and pineapples grown on several of the islands. MauiWine, found in the Kula country on the island of Maui, is Maui’s only grape wine vineyard and offers tours. Imaginations run the gambit for artisan wines with such creations as the Big Islands Volcano Wineries Macadamia Nut Honey wine.

Zuckerberg Leases to Island Farmers

Don’t have a green thumb, yet you love the idea of being a part of the growing artisan farming movement? You can lease your land to local farmers through a variety of arrangements, which is what Mark Zuckerberg is doing. A portion of his Kauai Island estate is leased by local farmers. Turmeric and other spices and fruits are grown by them, according to a Facebook post from Zuckerberg.

Recieve Support from the Local Government and Global Community

And, would you believe you can find people willing to volunteer their time to help you fulfill your Hawaii life dreams? If interested, explore what is happening at WWOOF Hawaii. It gets better. With the passage of Act 183, new incentives for conserving agricultural land in Hawaii are available. These incentives include tax benefits,  guaranteed loans, and priority permitting, just to name a few. For more information on this, you can visit the Hawaii Department of Agriculture website or give them a call.

Heed the Call to an Artisan Hawaii Life

Living the Hawaii life is living with care for the Aina (land). There are growing movements to farm with a mindfulness for sustainability and earth-friendly methods. Artisan farming also contributes to needed employment opportunities on the islands. Farming with care for the Aina can also earn the support of the community. Growing and crafting with the aloha spirit for the community will also earn some new life-long friends. If you would like to tour or receive information on some potential properties or existing profitable artisan farms and homeland for sale, please contact me.