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Local farmers, big box stores stock up on Christmas trees

By Dakota Grossman 5 min read

KULA -- As the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers are eaten, families begin decorating for the holidays with Christmas trees, which have been popping in stores or are starting to be harvested by local farmers.

With still a few days until December, Upcountry farmer Kelly Bass has already received texts and calls for her odorless and soft-needled Norfolk pine trees, which will be sold by appointment beginning Saturday.

Kula Kelly's Farm, located at 742 Holopuni Rd., has 35 of its 5- to 10-foot Christmas trees available at just $10 a foot.

"I never make a profit on my farm, and don't do this for the money," said owner Bass. "I like the human interaction, passing out candy canes to young and old, teaching them how to put the lights on a Norfolk, spreading joy really."

Families and friends can pick out their own Christmas tree and be greeted with candy canes from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas. For more information, call (808) 280-7404.

One hundred trees were initially planted on her property two decades ago, but over the years "they haven't regrown as well, and I've had to resort to replanting several trees in January-February -- after Christmas season," Bass said.

"It always takes awhile to see which ones feel like regrowing, and which ones are too tired," she added. "They used to grow back well after cutting them, though it would take two years to get back up to 4-plus feet."

Still, Kula Kelly's Farm sold the most trees ever last Christmas -- 44 trees over 5 feet tall -- and they were all gone by Dec. 13, which was also the quickest ever.

"Last year everyone was so thrilled to get out of the house," Bass recalled. "They all wore masks and were so grateful. I have many repeat customers, some come from Lahaina."

Bass said she got a new batch of keiki trees last week to replant in January, but it will be about two Christmases before they are big enough to sell.

"So the cycle continues," she said.

A bit higher up on the slopes of Haleakala sits the quaint Kula Botanical Garden where owner Warren McCord said he'll be spending the week pruning and preparing fragrant Monterey pine and nonfragrant cypress trees for the farm's annual Christmas sale.

The sale starts from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and runs through Saturday and Sunday, and then again on Dec. 11 and 12. Call the gift shop for more information at (808) 878-1715.

The family-run farm, which is one of the largest growers of Christmas trees in the state, will have about 800 to 1,000 trees for sale ranging from 3 to 18 feet, said son Kevin McCord on Sunday.

A handful of oversized trees were already reserved for a few hotels, like the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, and one for Seabury Hall, Warren McCord said during a brief tour Sunday afternoon.

Warren McCord, who with his late wife Helen started the botanical garden in 1968, pointed to the estimated 8,000 trees all growing at different stages around the property. He also pointed to some young trees that had unfortunately been broken by deer.

The majority of the trees growing on the farm are Monterey pines, but the family also grows Monterey cypress for people who might be sensitive to the heavy fragrance of pines, he said.

McCord explained how people used to be able to chop down their own trees at the farm, but later found discarded cigarette butts and candy wrappers in the field. So now customers pick up their trees at the front with Mrs. Claus, he said.

In Kahului, live and artificial Christmas trees have also already arrived at big box stores like Target, Walmart and Lowe's.

Since last week, Whole Foods at Maui Mall has had mid-sized trees lined up outside the store.

Costco Wholesale workers were seen unloading a container of Christmas trees early last week in the parking lot, but as of Sunday afternoon, the trees were already sold out.

Amy Allison, senior communications manager for Lowe's, said they aren't able to share exactly how many are in stock but noted that they are offering "more Christmas trees than last year and stores should receive a variety of tree types," like the popular Noble Fir, Douglas Firs, Grand Firs and the Nordmann Fir trees.

Trees are sourced from Washington and shipped in refrigerator containers "to ensure they are fresh when they reach the islands," Allison added.

At The Home Depot Maui, corporate spokeswoman Christina Cornell said that "we're well stocked with live and artificial trees this year, with inventory similar to previous years."

The majority of inventory is already on the island with some more on the way, Cornell said.

As of Sunday, prices at Home Depot and Lowe's ranged from $50 to $200 depending on the size and type of tree.

The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise's annual Christmas tree and wreath fundraiser returned to the Lahaina Cannery Mall parking lot last week. Net proceeds from the sale benefit the West Maui community and schools.

The nonprofit will be selling large Douglas Fir trees imported from Oregon for $80 and wreaths for $25 from the Rotary tree lot at the Cannery Mall until Dec. 12, or until sold out. On weekends, the sale will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays.

* Dakota Grossman can be reached at dgrossman@mauinews.com.

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