Revised Thursday 19 Sept. 2005
"Pililani Farms " is our name for 16 acres in Lualualei Valley just northwest of Nanakuli town on Oahu. "Pililani" in Hawaiian means "Close to Heaven"!
Our goal is to
1) remove non-native invasive plants and trees and
(2) restore native dryland trees, shrubs and ground covers;
(3) plant an extensive hardwood forest; and
(4) plant tropical fruit orchards and "co-op" vegetable gardens.
Our goal is to raise everything using the natural, organic method, enriching the soil with compost and earthworm castings.
Directions from Honolulu International Airport
Just past Kapolei, H1 turns into Farrington Highway, at which point you're about 3 miles to Ko'Olina, Marriott's awesome time-share resort. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the restaurant in the towers near Lagoon 1 anytime and swim in any of the four beautiful lagoons from sunrise to sunset.
Courtesy kayaks are available for visitors at Lagoon 1.
Looking toward Pililani Farms (black square) at the foot of Puuohulu Uke from Ko'Olina Resort.
Pililani rainbow From Ko'Olina, continue driving on Farrington Highway toward Waianae. You'll pass an Hawaiian Electric Company facility and then enter Nanakuli town. The highway continues past one beach park after another, straight toward a large mountain with two summits and a water tank in it's saddle ... Puuohulu Kai (860' elev) on the left and Puuohulu Uka (775' elev) on the right. Hakimo Road is near the base of that mountain and that's where you turn right. Continue on Hakimo Road one mile. Look for the gated City/County of Honolulu "Emergency Access Road". Bear left across the Access Road to our driveway which is also gated. The number on our mailbox is 87-680.
If you plan to visit Pililani Farms, be sure to contact us for gate access code.
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Walking up the 1000' driveway. Note the extensive Keawe and Koa Haole forest that has taken over the area. It will take several years to remove the invasive species and replace with native dryland trees and shrubs.
Coming into the area where the homes and barns are.
The 2BR1BA home and the 4BR2BA home with one of the two 1500' radio towers at the Lualualei Naval Transmission Facility in Nanakuli in the background.
Maunakapu elev. 2776' Daytime and Moonrise
Palikea 3098'
Mt. Kaala 4017' (tallest mountain on Oahu)
Pililani Farms native dryland trees and shrubs.
One of several native dryland trees on the property when we first arrived, this Golden Shower Tree is in full bloom (late May 2005)
The Plumeria Trees do very well in this dry climate.
This young Kou is one fast growing hardwood tree! (3' May 2005 and 9' Aug 2005).
Also thriving are Papaya Trees, Samoan Dwarf Coconut trees (May 2005) and Mao (Hawaiian Cotton) Aug 2005
The very drought-tolerant light green shrub is an Aalii, a medium-sized shrub or small tree up to 25 feet tall, but most often it is 6 to 12 feet in height.
The Alahe'e is an indigenous shrub or small tree up to 20' tall.
The Na'u (Hawaiian Gardenia), planted the same time as the Aalii, is much slower growing but seems healthy and happy
Pililani Rainbow at sunset"
The setting sun casting its golden glow on Maunakapu (2776' elev.)
Hale Hana
Hale Mauka
(1) Waianae Boat Harbor (2) looking southward along Farrington Highway next to Nanakuli Beach State Park near Hakimo Road) and (3) a Leeward Coast beach