South Maui Oasis
Manicured grass squishes beneath my toes, and a small fountain trickles at the base of a thick palm. Though the afternoon sun is warm on my face, the tree’s shade and an ocean breeze keep me cool. For a moment, I’m surprised to recall that I’m in dry, dusty Kīhei.
“This is my little oasis,” Cindy Greenwell says, then acknowledges that it wasn’t always idyllic. When she bought the quarter-acre lot — a foreclosed property she sought to renovate and eventually resell — it was filled with weeds, dirt, and trash. Today, arrayed with sprouting bamboo, smooth monstera leaves, sweet potato and more, these grounds are a perfect space for entertaining or simply enjoying the outdoors.
Cindy smiles as she tells me that it’s been a labor of love — lots of love, and lots of labor. “It’s always a work in progress. There’s plants that do well in winter that in summer just get torched. Some things, you go, ‘Well, that didn’t work,’ and you start over again.”
Biggest Challenge: “The sheer volume of it. It’s challenging having to do everything from scratch.”
Tip: Kīhei’s sun can be formidable, especially in summer. “I recommend shade trees, and choosing plants wisely,” says Cindy. “Know how much sun they’re going to get, and how much water they need. Here, succulents do really well.”
RESOURCES
Ki Hana Nursery
1746A S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei
808-879-1165 | KiHanaNursery.com
Pacific Island Palms
769 Holopuni Rd., Kula
808-280-2194 | PacificIslandPalms.com
Pono Construction
808-283-5725 | PonoConstruction.com
