Big Island Maile

ABOUT US

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Horticulturalist David Miranda is The Island Gardener. David grew up in Kāne‘ohe on O‘ahu and now lives in Volcano on Hawai‘i island. David has over 45 years of experience as a grower growing ornamental and native plants.  He has developed propagation and production methods that have been important contributions to the Hawai‘i horticultural industry.  Determined to produce the endemic maile plant (Alyxia stellata) in a sustainable and pesticide-free manner, David set up his farm in Volcano, Hawai‘i at nearly 4000' elevation where he grows the maile and makes the lei.  ​

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ABOUT OUR MAILE

 

The Island Gardener produces its own seed and propagative materials. With official permits in hand, initial plant material was obtained during the widening and straightening of the Saddle Road on Hawai‘i Island. We have preserved that now lost gene pool. Private land owners in Ka‘u and upper Puna have also allowed us access to maile on their property and from there we developed our own propagative techniques which we consider proprietary. A reserved greenhouse is used to sustainably produce all our propagative material and to maintain mother block populations. A second greenhouse produces the maile used for lei making and produces material year-round. All of this happens here in Volcano on the island of Hawaii at an elevation near 4000’.

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The maile lei are well-made and will not fall apart easily during rigorous hula kahiko or stacked graduation lei.  The Island Gardener maile lei consist of only maile and may be intertwined by customers with other lei such as pikake or tuberose. 

 

We use unconventional insect control methods that were originally developed in the 1970’s to control certain insect pests that affected the commercial watercress farms on Oahu. We apply strict sanitation practices in our greenhouses to control other plant diseases and pests. The methods used are the result of over forty years of greenhouse production experience.

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Our horticultural background and experience allow us to produce quality material that is free of insects and disease. Yes! We are able to ship our lei into the continental United States including California and have been doing so for almost five years with no problems. We like to use our friends at Federal Express to get our leis reliably to customers on the neighbor islands (overnight), as well as to the U.S. mainland (second day). We do not advise shipping via the Postal Service.

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Each lei is placed in a no-frills plastic bag that protects and maintains humidity around the lei when it is shipped. A lei will quickly revive its turgor by placing the lei and bag into a refrigerator to cool it off. A Federal Express shipping box and Fed Ex tracking are further assurance that your lei arrives in good shape and on time.  A care instruction sheet is enclosed to advise on care once the lei is received.