New Haʻikū Mill Tour Highlights History & Nature

July 12, 2016, 9:41 AM HST
* Updated July 12, 12:27 PM

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Haʻikū Mill. Chris J. Evans Photography

Maui’s historic Haʻikū Mill is launching a historical botanical tour of its 150-year-old ruins and relics.

The island’s prosperous sugar era and its diverse flora and beautiful gardens will be on full display as visitors are guided through the 2.5-acre grounds.

Haʻikū Mill was abandoned in 1879 after nearly two decades as a thriving hub of sugar production and left untouched for over a century.

In 1986, it was added to the distinguished National Register of Historic Places listings in Hawai‘i.

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Ten years later, the ruins were restored and transformed by owner Sylvia Hamilton Kerr. Today, the property boasts 55 plant species found throughout the islands growing and producing on site, and an impressive orchard output of 52%.

The tour will showcase the property’s horticultural artistry, as well as the tropical flora found throughout the Hawaiian Islands and grown on site.

Guests will receive an up-close-and-personal look at artifacts and ruins from the mill’s prosperous days in the mid-1800s, as Maui’s leading producer of sugar.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the sugar industry’s impact on the cultural makeup of the island today during an immersive experience that is both educational and interactive.

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“Haʻikū Mill’s property is a microcosm of Maui’s history and botanical diversity,” said Kimiko Hosaki, director of business development. “Nowhere else will visitors experience so much of what defines Maui in such a small and intimate setting. We’re thrilled to share it with residents and visitors.”

Tours will be offered Mondays and Wednesdays—publicly by contacting the Mill and privately through Platinum Tours and Travel Plaza Transportation—as part of their Upcountry tours.

Admission is $18 per person, which includes a guided tour of the property and complimentary refreshments.

Tickets are available online through Eventbrite on Haʻikū Mill’s website.

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A kama‘āina rate of $12 per person is available when booked directly with Haʻikū Mill by calling (808) 575-9994.

Group rates are also available. Corporate groups are welcome.

For more information, contact Haʻikū Mill at (808) 575-9994 or [email protected].