Can Maui get any more mellow? Visit this lavender farm -- and breathe deep

Fragrant flowers abound on Maui, but visitors wanting to take some of that aromatic therapy home with them should head for the hills — literally.

Four-thousand feet above the seaside resorts, on the slopes of the Haleakala volcano, gardeners at the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm welcome guests as they tend to 45 different varieties of purple-flowered plant.

The 13.5-acre farm is home to more than 55,000 lavender plants which bloom year-round in the relatively cool and dry, Mediterranean-like climate.

Various tours of the farm near the village of Kula are offered daily. Guided walking tours cost $12, while tours by golf cart are priced at $25. General admission is $3, but children 12 and younger are free.

The lavender is used to create a wide variety of products sold in the shop and online. Ali’i’s bath and beauty line includes body spritzer, shampoo, shave gel and, of course, soap.

Professional cooks know that lavender can add a subtle flavor to a variety of foods. Ali’i sells herb tea, scone mix, honey and other products infused with the tiny, fragrant flowers.

A promoter of sustainable agriculture, the farm uses as many organic materials as possible in its products.

Info: Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm, (808) 878-3004

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