Sunday, January 30, 2011

Alii Kula Lavender Farm

My sister and I went to Maui in October 2009 for our annual Seester’s Trip.  First of all, let me tell you how absolutely beautiful and breathtaking the land, sea and people of Maui are…someday I shall return to Maui, maybe to live there forever!  I hope ya’ll come visit me.  

As we wound our way back to the airport for our evening flight home, our last stop on Maui was the Alii Kula Lavender Farm.  I think we were drawn to this place so that we could honor our Mother.  Jo {after four children shouting out ‘Mom’ 531,343 times a day our Mother quit responding to the word MOM in any deviation so we started to call her by her given name so that she would acknowledge her children!} always loved lavender…in any form…essential oils, sachets, sprays, spritz, it didn’t matter what form--she loved lavender and we grew up with the smell of lavender.  Jo would go on and on about the healing properties of lavender {more about that later}.  This place was a little piece of heaven on earth. 

We first made our way through the gift shop/cafĂ©.  We shopped, we ate lavender scones and drank lavender tea {it is way better than you may think…now the lavender chocolate didn’t do much for me, but the rest was fabu-Lo-so. The essence of chocolate should not be messed with...}.   In the gift shop I purchased a container of Lavender Body Butter and the Lavender Shampoo {the human formula, not the dog shampoo}.  I LOVE the body butter!  I use it on my face, hands, arms, legs…my body!  Hence, the name!  Duh.  The shampoo is just amazing!  Talk about shiny, squeaky clean and smelling good!  I actually just placed another order with them on Saturday!  

We then started our self-guided tour on the ten acre farm, apparently there are a gazillion types of lavender!  The smells and physical differences of the varying types of lavender is simply amazing.  The farm is sprinkled throughout with different statues, hidden benches, and chairs so that you can take a rest or just sit and enjoy the sights and smells of the farm. 

After taking the time to do the tour we still had time to kill before our flight so we took time to sit in some chairs we found hidden in a small grove of trees located a knoll. We took our books, water and lavender tea and just sat and enjoyed the sound of the footsteps of the other tourist, the buzzing of the bees, and just enjoyed the quiet of the space. The photos on the blog are from our trip to the farm.  If you ever make it to Maui, the lavender farm is a MUST do! 



 



From the Akii Kila Lavender website:  
In the uplands of Maui, nestled along the skirt of Haleakala (House of the Sun) lay the beautiful gardens of Ali`i Kula Lavender.
AKL resides on an elevation of roughly 4000 ft. and is home to approximately 55,000 lavender plants and 45 different varieties of lavender, olive trees, hydrangea and protea blooming on 10.5 acres, offering the first and only Lavender Lifestyle experience on Maui. Cared for and created by Agricultural Artist and Horticultural Master, Mr. Ali’i Chang.
Relaxation, Rejuvenation and Renewal are all held in this magical place that the spirit calls home!
Ali`i is more than a Grower, he is Guardian.
The beauty of his work can be seen across our 10-acre stretch. On any given day he can be found nurturing his flowerbeds and lavender fields with attention and charm.
Though his lavender beauties are not native to Maui, they have settled on our majestic mountain with style and grace. Thriving in Kula’s perfect weather, our lavender blooms year round.
Lavender was given to Ali’i in 2001 by a dear friend and being the consummate gardener that he was, he planted the herb with the best of intentions to have it breathe and blossom into what AKL is today—a true work of art!
This masterpiece in which he calls his home speaks of the life he lives and the legacy he wishes to leave behind. His art of growing plants and enriching our resources is greatly enhanced and adorned by the many artifacts and collectable's Ali’i has acquired over his many years of travel and entrepreneurship. These accented pieces give way to the incredible detail and richness that takes form in his craft.
Alii prides himself on having an impeccable and ever-changing canvas for all eyes and takes considerable pride in his work and the work of his people. And though his flowers could never look more beautiful as they do, or his plants could never grow better than he already makes him,....he will always find ways to create something incredulously impressive….he is a true perfectionist.
Ali'i Kula Lavender (AKL) is the premier purveyor of unique, quality Lavender products on Maui and is a leader in promoting a health and wellness lifestyle.
AKL produces products that enrich the quality of life by evoking joy, rejuvenation, comfort and serenity. Each product is carefully made using natural, botanical and organic ingredients as often as possible. As a lifestyle company we are animal and earth friendly and encourage our visitors and guests to do the same.
AKL is built on a value-centered philosophy of "Aloha" which means love, friendship and responsibility. This principle speaks to the quality of our relationships with the land, the community and each other. It is what influences our behavior and encompasses our level of excellence in which we do our work.
AKL is an integral part of helping to grow sustainable economies through agri-tourism and provides agricultural education that supports our community based business model.
AKL creates profitable growth, expanding career and personal development opportunities for our employees and the communities of which they are a part. As a steward of the land,
AKL promotes best practices that respect the Earth and the Environment and gives special homage and respect to our Kupuna (elders) whose spirit has empowered us to nurture and protect our land and our people.



The various health benefits of lavender essential oil include:
Nervous System: Lavender essential oil has a calming scent which makes it an excellent tonic for the nerves. Therefore, it helps in treating migraines, headaches, anxiety, depression, nervous tension and emotional stress. The refreshing aroma removes nervous exhaustion and restlessness and increases mental activity.
Sleep: Lavender essential oil induces sleep and hence it is often recommended for insomnia.
Pain Relief: Lavender essential oil is also an excellent remedy for various types of pains including those caused by sore muscles, tense muscles, muscular aches, rheumatism, sprains, backache and lumbago. A regular massage with lavender oil provides relief from pain in the joints.
Urine Flow: Lavender essential oil is good for urinary disorders as it stimulates urine production. It helps in restoring hormonal balance and reduces cystitis or inflammation of the urinary bladder. It also reduces any associated cramps.
Respiratory Disorders: Lavender oil is extensively used for various respiratory problems including throat infections, flu, cough, cold, asthma, sinus congestion, bronchitis, whooping cough, laryngitis, and tonsillitis. The oil is either used in the form of vapour or applied on the skin of neck, chest and back. It is also added in many vaporizers and inhalers used for cold and coughs.

Hair Care: Lavender essential oil is useful for the hair as it can be very effective on lice and lice eggs or nits.
Blood Circulation: Lavender essential oil is also good for improving blood circulation. It lowers blood pressure and is used for hypertension.
Digestion: Lavender oil is useful for digestion as it increases the mobility of the intestine. The oil also stimulates the production of gastric juices and bile and thus aids in treating indigestion, stomach pain, colic, flatulence, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Immunity: Regular use of lavender essential oil provides resistance to diseases.
Other health benefits of lavender essential oil include its ability to treat leucorrhoea. It is also effective against insect bites. The oil is also used to repel mosquitoes and moths. You will find many mosquito repellents containing lavender oil as one of the ingredients.
As with many other essential oils, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid using lavender essential oil. It is also recommended that diabetics stay away from lavender oil. It may also cause allergic reactions to people having sensitive skin. Some people may also witness nausea, vomiting and headaches due to usage of lavender oil.
Information obtained from http://www.organicfacts.net





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