Two champions of agriculture honored at Maui AgFest Pancake Breakfast

The Maui County Farm Bureau (MCFB) celebrates the contributions of Maui County farmers and ranchers at the upcoming Maui Legacy Farmers Pancake Breakfast, a tradition since 2016.

The event takes place at the War Memorial Special Events Field, where the pancake breakfast will begin at 9 a.m., kicking off the 16th Maui AgFest & 4-H Livestock Fair, held on Saturday, May 31, from 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m. 

Sponsored by Fairmont Kea Lani, this year’s breakfast pays tribute to 2025 honorees Wesley Nohara and Richard “Dickie” Boteilho. Learn the stories behind these heroes of local agriculture while enjoying an island-style breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, breakfast sausage and juice from Fairmont Kea Lani, all served with fresh Maui Gold Pineapple and hot coffee. The breakfast is from 9 to 10:30 a.m.; tickets are $12 for adults; $8 for seniors; $6 for children 5 to 12 years old; free for children 4 & under. Tickets are available online at www.mauicountyfarmbureau.org.

This year’s two Legacy Farmers embody the spirit of Maui farming and have contributed greatly to the success of island agriculture:

Wesley Nohara

Pineapple is in Wesley Nohara’s blood. A third-generation pineapple employee, he was born at the old Pioneer Mill Hospital in Lahaina and raised in the old Baldwin Packers Honolua Camp. All four of his grandparents were next-door neighbors and worked for the Baldwin Packers Pineapple Company starting in the 1920s. Both his parents worked for Baldwin Packers, and Nohara started working as a seasonal field worker in 1969 while attending Lahainaluna High School. By that time, the company was acquired by Maui Pineapple Company, Ltd.

Nohara worked to pay his tuition at University of Hawai‘i driving a pineapple truck to the Kahului cannery. After Nohara’s graduation from UH,Doug MacCluer (plantation manager and 2017 Legacy Farmer honoree) offered him a job as a management trainee. Nohara says despite his “unimpressive” college transcripts, “MacCluer took a chance on me, and I am forever grateful to him.” Through hard work and determination, Nohara embarked on a 30-year management career at Maui Pine. By 2009, he had worked his way up to general manager of agriculture operations.

While working for Maui Pine, Nohara was involved in the selection process of 50 variety plots of pineapple, one of which would later become the famous Maui Gold. In fact, Nohara selected the name Maui Gold and recommended branding it to the marketing folks.

During his time at Maui Pine, the company made huge strides in conservation and watershed management. From the technical and highly skilled work in the Pu‘u Kukui Watershed to the agricultural conservation Best Management Practices (BMPs), they reduced sediment loading into coastal waters by more than 64 percent. This work protects West Maui’s water source and native ecosystems, controls invasive plants and animals, reduces flooding, protects people’s lives and property, and improves ocean water quality for recreation, tourism and businesses. The well-maintained Honolua Ditch is another project that was hugely important for the entire community, providing much of West Maui’s drinking and agricultural water.  

Today, Nohara farms kalo in Ha‘ikū, operating Pu‘u Kane Farms LLC since 2010. 

“Wes Nohara has decades of service to agriculture, working his way from management trainee to general manager at Maui Pineapple Company, Ltd. His dedication to this local company is unparalleled in these times,” said Warren Watanabe, MCFB executive director. “Wes has also been an active community leader, serving on the boards of many organizations such as the West Maui Soil & Water Conservation District. Wes truly deserves to be a Legacy Farmer for his years of service without ever seeking recognition for his contributions to the community.”

Looking back on his long, productive career, Nohara is proud of the achievements at both Honolua and Hali‘imaile plantations. But he says his career at Maui Pine would be nothing without the people who made great things happen: “I think it is the people I worked with that I most appreciate, respect, and hold dear to my heart.”  

Richard “Dickie” Boteilho 

“Dickie” Boteilho was born and raised in Olinda, Maui, and grew up around agriculture with his family. For many years, he helped his uncle Anthony Silva with his cattle operation, as well as other family members with their ranching enterprises. While still in high school in 1972, Boteilho started his own ranch. His livestock enterprise grew over time in size and diversity, and led to raising beef cattle, meat goats, meat rabbits, chickens and ducks in Maui County. 

Major influences that helped foster Boteilho’s love for ranching include Bill Eby (a past Legacy Farmer honoree, 2023) and Bruce Fleming, in addition to family members he helped. His favorite part of ranching comes with seeing each new crop of animals being born; it provides the energy to get all the chores and ranch work completed. Boteilho and Katherine McFarley, his girlfriend of over 40 years, reside on the family farm in Ha‘ikū. 

All the time wanting to expand his own agricultural operation, Boteilho worked at Princess Orchards Papaya Farm on Maui after high school. Following advice from mentors who included David “Buddy” Nobriga (another past Legacy Farmer honoree,  2016), he decided to pursue a career at the Maui County Water Works, now the Maui County Department of Water Supply (DWS). This gave him the necessary capital to expand his livestock enterprise. Boteilho worked in DWS for more than 25 years, handling different sections of the water system; at one time, his territory spanned from Upcountry Baldwin Park to Kakipi Gulch, and all the way to Kanaio. 

Today he owns and operates Broke Ass Ranch in various pastures across the island and raises Brangus cattle, Boer and Savannah goats, and New Zealand white rabbits. At its largest capacity, the ranch operated across 33 leased properties; currently, it runs livestock across nine leased properties of several hundred acres. For a few decades, Boteilho used to harvest five head of cattle a week through the local slaughterhouse, direct marketing that beef to local families across the islands. While his operation has decreased in size recently due to loss of lease lands, he still produces consistent quality, just in smaller numbers than years past. 

“Dickie is a well-respected rancher and agriculturalist in Maui County. He began direct-to-consumer marketing of meat from beef, goats and rabbits to support local food production in the 1970s, long before ‘farm-to-table’ was popular or trendy in the livestock industry,” said Kyle Caires, MCFB board president. “Dickie uses best management practices to keep his livestock healthy and pastures weed-free. He gives freely of his time and expertise to help other ranchers in need. Rain or shine, you’ll find Dickie each day in his 1964 Chevy truck enroute to checking animals and pastures across the island with a big smile on his face, a story to share and the determination to get work done. Dickie is a treasure in Maui’s agricultural community and is most deserving of this recognition as a Maui Legacy Farmer Award recipient.”

The Maui Legacy Farmers Pancake Breakfast will be emceed by KPOA’s Alaka‘i Paleka, who will present awards to the farmers and their families. In addition, MCFB will also honor their 2025 “Friend of Agriculture”Award Recipient Ryan Luckey, executive chef at The Pint & Cork in the Shops at Wailea. This award—a partnership between MCFB, Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi (MNKO) magazine —was presented to Luckey by MCFB Vice President Rudy Balala at the recent MNKO ‘Aipono Awards Gala held at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Chef Luckey was recognized for his longtime dedication to integrating local ingredients into his culinary ventures, whether as chef at Leilani’s on the Beach, Hula Grill or Pineapple Grill. “To be able to give back to those farmers and small businessowners, to support them in their efforts, and to show off this beautiful bounty of vegetables and other items that are really special to Maui, that really makes my job as a chef fulfilling,” Luckey said in an MNKO interview. 

Food for the pancake breakfast is prepared and sponsored by the team at Fairmont Kea Lani under the leadership of Michael Pye, General Manager & Regional Vice President for Fairmont Hawai‘i; Executive Chef Michael Lofaro; and new Director of Food & Beverage Zachary Mucha.  

Following the breakfast, the tent will open for general seating and a full lineup of all-day entertainment. ʻAhahui Ka‘ahumanu will kick off the festivities at 10 a.m., followed by exciting performances from Maui Taiko; dynamic local ensemble Luana‘ole; Maui musician, vocalist and kumu hula Kamaka Kūkona and his award-winning Hālau Ka Hanu Lehua; and Maui’s popular band – Homestead. 

Paleka will emcee the festivities, with a new twist: between each entertainer, she will welcome farmers onstage for “Meet the Farmers” interviews and giveaways. Each hour will bring a chance to learn more about Maui farms—including Yee’s Orchard, Maui Ku‘ia Estate Chocolate, the Maui Flower Growers & Floriculture Collective, Mahi Pono, Hawai‘i Farm Tours (pineapple, honey, chocolate), Surfing Goat Dairy, Maui Association of Landscape Professionals, and more—with tasty prizes like fresh mangoes, coffee and chocolate. 

As always, look out for flying watermelon seeds, as contestants return to the stage for the famous Mahi Pono Watermelon Eating Contest, a crowd favorite. Contestants are encouraged to register online at the main stage. 

Tickets are selling fast for another crowd favorite: Grand Taste, the delicious culinary challenge between 12 local chefs using Maui ingredients in four categories: Kai, ‘Āina, Vegetarian and Dessert. Held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., the event is a fun way for folks to get to know local chefs, taste local ingredients, and vote on their favorite dish. Tickets for Grand Taste are $35 ($45 day of), available online at MauiAgFest.org.

Other AgFest highlights include Taste Education, Grown on Maui Farmers’ Market, Maui 4-H Youth Livestock Show & Auction, Keiki Zone, and mouth-watering food.

AgFest is hosted by MCFB and Maui 4-H Livestock Association in partnership with Maui County Department of Agriculture, along with strong support from Gold Sponsors Bayer, Mahi Pono, Pukalani Superette, Ulupono Initiative and Pacific Media Group; Silver Sponsors Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, Ness Turf Equipment and Fairmont Kea Lani; Bronze Sponsors A&B, Hawaiian Electric and Young Brothers; and Friend of Agriculture Sponsors Mākena Golf  & Beach Resort; Maui Land & Pineapple Co. and VIP Foodservice. 

Tickets for AgFest are still the best deal around: $5 for adults; free for 18 & under with student ID. Parking is free. Tickets are available at the door (cash only) or online through Ticket Leap: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/mauiagfest/maui-agfest-4h-livestock-fair. 

To buy tickets for Grand Taste and Maui Legacy Farmers Pancake Breakfast, visit www.MauiAgFest.org. Admission tickets are also required for both events.