APLD California Chapter

  September 2007 Newsletter

 

A Land Known as Honokohau Valley

By Jonathan Silverman

 I had an amazing experience in Tropical Maui and wanted to share it.  I am sure this article, if featured in the APLD, will help inspire and motivate those folks in the field of gardening and landscaping:

 (Editor's Note: This article is published in its' entirety to convey the full story that Jonathan is sharing with our group. We are able to do this, since there were no other article submissions this month. Thank you, Jonathan, for your contribution.)

 I have been to Maui many times over the last several years. This time I developed a new awareness of a natural connection to Honokohau Valley through music. I became enriched with this experience.   It all began two and a half years ago when I met George Kahumoku Jr. on his tour in California.  George is a Hawaiian-born guitar legend raised in the islands, currently living in Kahakuloa Cliffs in Maui.  We met at the Little Fox in Redwood City, California.  During the intermission he and I began speaking about nature and the island life.  I was quite impressed and thankful to have so much in common with him.  He handed me his business card.  Years passed before we reconnected, and I told him I was coming to Maui.  He was excited at the news and we made plans to meet on the island.

The day I arrived, George brought me over to Honokohau Valley late at night for me to meet his long time friend Job Cabato.  The area does not appear on most maps because it does not offer modern day living requirements such as electric power, garbage, or mail services.

Standing in the darkness, I had no idea where I was or what surrounded me and yet this was somewhat exciting.  The moment we arrived Job appeared out of the darkness.  Immediately, I felt the creative energy surrounding him as I shook his hand.  For as long as I was prepared to be there, I was prepared to learn as much as I could from him and the land. Looking at the 100 year old bottles, collections of plantation antiques, and relics of coffee days I realized it had been the most Hawaii-ness I had ever been a part of.  My good friend George had won Grammy awards for his slack key guitar songs dedicated to this land.  I began to understand how the music related to being in tune with the natural Hawaiian environment.
This area is known as Honokohau Valley and is found in Maui, on the most north-west point of the island.  It resides in the West Maui Volcano - "House of Water" in Hawaiian, known as Kahukalo.  This valley begins along the curvaceous road across rugged cliffs at mile marker 36.  In Honokohau valley you are surrounded by several natural beaches in Honolua Bay.  You can leave behind the heat of the valley for a cool refreshing dip into some of the most secluded beaches and go snorkeling to discover beautiful sea creatures unlike anywhere else on the island.

 Over 30 years ago George's friend Job, created the Gardener's Guild and did what no one has ever done in Honokohau Valley.  He had a beautiful vision of restoring the land to its "Old Hawaii" nature.  He left the main island, where he had grown up and arrived in the valley with nothing but a vision to create human connections and everlasting friendships through farming, landscape design, environmental cleanup, and improvement. He quickly discovered he could penetrate deep into and reconnect with his soul by using his hands and mind.   Job began the Gardener's Guild by planting an avocado tree that now soars 100ft high above the landscape.  The 5 acres of land features an extraordinary environment filled with tropical plants that provide both visual and olfactory enjoyment.  There are papayas, bananas, and citrus trees, Taro patches from the 1930's, a propagation center, a nursery operation (all restored from cuttings of Plumerias, Gingers, an assortment of palms grown from seeds) and a newly forming coconut road.  On most maps it is lost and even the main road is a series of incongruous dotted lines.  Entering the valley leads you into a population of 100 people on this narrow one-lane road and takes you into deep, lush vegetation and the only way back to civilization is to turn around.

 Job masterminded the operation of building the Gardener's Guild as well as nurturing its surrounding environment. Being an avid collector of antiques and leftover construction materials from various hotel developments in the surrounding areas, he rented machines and borrowed equipment to build.  He has built four houses made of recyclable parts collected over the years, storing the materials away until needed.  Having no power, (in other words pluggable electrical outlets) one might find it difficult to get things done.  In the field gas powered generators and re-chargeable 12 volt batteries come in handy.   In the kitchen there's a propane gas powered stove and refrigeration unit.  Also, on top of the houses roof solar panels lay for photo voltaic and electric power.  This offers residents basic low voltage lighting, hot water in the outdoor shower, and low voltage lighting for indoor use.   Job also collects cans and garbage that tourists have left by the side of the road, exchanging them for money while beautifying the lands. Gardener's Guild has been collecting over the past 18 years.  All proceeds go towards equipment and maintenance of taro patches and nursery operation.

The first morning I awoke during my stay with Job, I could hear from my cot the sounds of barking dogs and chickens.  The day of work began around 5:30 AM. I got prepared with my tools and work outfit and we started the day with a papaya sliced in half and cut banana pieces.  In the kitchen, where the day of work that lay ahead was discussed, we looked through the screen windows that allowed the cool breeze and aromatic plants to drift by.  I looked up and saw geckos on the ceiling.  I looked down and spiders were living in peace, crossing the floors.  I played a song on the guitar and began to get in tune with the music of the peoples' land, be connected to the rhythm of nature.  

 Out the front door the sensory experience struck me immediately. The sounds of music echoed in my ears with the stream water flowing nearby to Honokohau Bay .  The morning sun shined down through the green foliage.  I felt connected already.  I walked onto the doorstep of the valley and began breathing in fresh air.  I reached to touch the basil, parsley, and gingers.  Bees drifted by nourishing nature.  Job and I walked through the land as part of an introductory tour.  He led me through to the Kahawai (a stream) that irrigates the land by a pump and gas powered generator.  This helps divert the flow of water to the hose system, which takes 4.5 hours to water the entire nursery.  Also, there is an Awai (a canal that acts as a watershed) that stores the water that can be pushed to reservoirs when heavy rains fall down.  The land has a well-set irrigation system working with natural resources.

 Next, I was led into work for my initial experience in a Taro Patch.  I was to be farming in the sub terrain mud walls.  Taro is the essential Hawaiian food. One can compare its taste to a potato, but less starchy.  It takes about 12 months in the growing cycle until it can be harvested for enjoyment.  You can eat the leaves, during its growing period.  Sub Terrain is a way of excavating the grounds surface level to allow water to fill to rise to the height of the wall with the Taro plants being submerged.  The leaves of a Taro plant will be above the water.

 Taro Patch Farming has certain processes that must be followed in order to have a high yield. Here are my notes from the experience:

 Prepare the site, an area of 36 X 36.   Remove all of the weeds by hand. Remove "Hooli" (Old Taro) from ground, as it appears to be ready to be harvested in severe dry land. Rip out and organize the different varieties into 2 separate piles.

After 2 days of handwork bending over individually grabbing.  Decided to not use material, start over.  Time to Hand-till the patch, re-amend the ground 12" to loosen up for the new Hooli from another patch.  Lesson learned.  This new 'hooli' was pulled out using the Gardener's Guild Back Hoe, modern machinery in another 36 X 36 area in 2 hours.  

Team of 2 laborers began knife-cutting the corms of hooli and any additional rotting on bulb in order for success in rooting.  Team of 2 laborers began dipping the hooli in a bucket of 9 parts water / 1 part bleach for sterilization.  Team of 2 laborers began digging the holes 2 ft apart and adding starter 10-30-10  water-soluble fertilize dropping into and planting north on a full moon for greater energy.  Mulch would be preferred at this time. However this mud wall taro patch is designed differently.  The 36 X 36 patch will be submerged 3 feet below ground surface and therefore the hooli hooli (said twice, it is the new taro) is to appear in a moat of water when the rainy season picks in October, until then the plan for consistent irrigation is to divert water from the Kahawai and release into the Awai.

Visitors arrive. The tongas (ancient people of south pacific), taro farmers, landscapers, all drop-in search of taking plant materials, harvesting fruits, taro, wood, equipment, and to share a story.  The fluctuation of locals began to surface and interfere with the flow of the day's work. However we graciously hosted them, supporting their creativity.  The taro farmers helped to weed out the hooli and offered to plant the hooli-hooli.  The tongas came to collect the silver wood and monkey pod trees to carve tikis, mermaids and sea life creatures. The builders arrived to continue the framing of the roof of the Healing Room, an addition to the back of the garage, a special place of refuge, peace, and sanity to heal.

Being a landscape designer, I immediately presented my concept to the Gardener's Guild of an Herbal Healing Garden .  I was hired immediately based on my passion, knowledge, and love of nature, so I provided the landscape design, layout and planting design for this Herbal Healing Garden.  I created a 21' X 30' garden designed to enhance the surrounding sensations for those enjoying the Healing Room.  A spectacular view can be seen through a central sliding door, French doors, and back windows.  The planting consisted of a variety of useful medicinal and culinary herbs.  There are three separate natural rock pathways that travel along the perimeter.  Also, a floor mat pathway of foot stomping thyme surrounds a seating area.  Finally, tropical flare  was added for visual stimulations.  The overall design offers a multitude of stimulations for one to connect and interact with one's senses.

 Throughout my summer apprenticeship working, living off the lands with a daily abundance of delicious fruits and veggies, I regularly planted seeds, harvested papayas, and picked bananas from the trees.  I propagated tropical plants and learned the basics of how to operate machines in the field.  I learned many lessons about nature.  Now I have a better understanding of what "Old Hawaii" traditions are and fear that they are becoming lost at an extreme rate as the future progresses.  Designing this Healing Garden made me feel good about the future guests who, when they visit, can heal naturally with herbal medicine.  Natural healing is something we can teach one another to use properly and share when needed.  We can turn to the earth like the animals do and rediscover the benefits for healing.

 I encourage anyone who appreciates nature, gardening, tropical farming, and traveling to Hawaii to visit the Gardener's Guild in Honokohau Valley 36 mile marker for a day, week, or a month and make a difference in your perception of life and nature.  I am sure this experience will be a treasure that you will cherish forever.  Remember to bring you gardening gloves, pruners, work boots, flashlight, and an open positive mind.

 Jonathan Silverman lives in Noe Valley.  He is currently working on another island, restoring the historic " Alcatraz " gardens. He is acquiring his 2nd degree, in Environmental Horticulture at City College of San Francisco, and doing landscape design for private residences in Maui, Hawaii, as well as the San Francisco Bay Area and San Diego.  You can email him at jonnygogotravels@yahoo.com

To request a visit at Honokohau Valley, please contact:

Job K. Cabato
GARDENER'S GUILD since 1977
Job K. Cabato - Owner
Landscape Contractor's License # 10176
P.O. Box 10246, Lahaina, Hi 96761
Cell: 808 665 0628 or Office: 808 268 1461

 Members' Section

 

Welcome to new members of APLD California

 

First Name	MI	Last Name	Company	City
Julie		Boegli	Julie's Creative Designs	Escondido
Marilyn	L.	Chambers	Tri-C Enterprises, LLC	Chino
Rebecca		Perry		Palo Alto
Louis		Truesdell	American Soil & Stone Products, Inc.	Berkeley
Lesley		Turner	LTLA Design	Berkeley
Kathy		Wheeler		Los Altos

 

 

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