Maui Butterfly Farm Tour: Butterflies up Close

Maui Butterfly Farm Tour: Butterflies up Close

About

The Maui Butterfly Farm owned by Siobhan Wilson and her husband, Geoffrey, opened in October 2020. The farm is located on land that was once part of a plantation camp for Japanese working in the sugarcane fields. They come from a private Oxford (UK) education in Animal Sciences and Agriculture, and they feel that, “raising butterflies is something we have always been destined to do. We are passionate about saving the declining butterfly population here in Hawaii as well as educating those around us on how to create and maintain a healthy environment here in the Islands in order to help them as best we can.”

Tour

A 45-minute guided visit through the Maui Butterfly Farm immerses you in a thriving world of delicate winged beauties. As butterflies flutter freely around the enclosed butterfly tent, expert staff provide hands-on experiences to educate visitors on these captivating creatures, including the native Kamehameha Butterfly (the state insect) and Monarch Butterflies. If you are very lucky you might even see a butterfly emerge from a chrysalis.

Conservation Efforts

Butterfly populations are rapidly declining across the globe, largely driven by habitat loss and degradation, pesticide use, and climate change. Intensified agricultural practices and urbanization have led to the destruction of open spaces like meadows and forests where butterflies feed and breed. The use of chemical pesticides reduces butterfly food sources like native plants and pollinators. A warming climate also threatens butterfly survival by disrupting intricate seasonal cycles. Sadly, studies estimate over 40% of butterfly species face potential extinction.

The Maui Butterfly Farm supports conservation initiatives in Hawai‘i and is focused on educating guests about restoring natural habitats and increasing the local butterfly population through their butterfly breeding program. The public can aid threatened butterfly species by planting pollinator gardens and limiting pesticide usage at home. Preserving biodiversity means protecting fragile species like butterflies, whose unique beauty and ecological contributions are irreplaceable.

Tip

Pair this experience with a visit to Lāna‘i and the Cat Sanctuary or the Maui Ocean Center.

Reviews

“The Maui Butterfly Farm Tour was an absolute delight! My family and I thoroughly enjoyed the informative tour, learning about the life cycle of butterflies and witnessing the transformation from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. Holding the delicate butterflies was a magical experience, and watching them flutter around was truly mesmerizing. The knowledgeable and friendly staff made the experience even more enjoyable. We highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting Maui!” Source: TripAdvisor Reviewer: John S.

“My wife and two young children visited the Maui Butterfly Farm Tour, and we all had a wonderful time. The tour was well-paced and engaging, and our guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about butterflies. The kids loved getting to see all the different stages of the butterfly life cycle, and they were thrilled to release a butterfly into the butterfly house. The tour also had a strong educational component, teaching us about the importance of butterfly conservation. Overall, we had a fantastic experience and would highly recommend this tour to families with young children.” Source: Yelp Reviewer: Sarah W.

Practical Information

Address: 820 Olowalu Village Road, Lahaina, HI 96761, USA
Hours: Tour starts at 10:00 AM. Click Book Now for a calendar showing available dates. This Tour does sell out.
Admission: Adult admission – $38. Kama‘aina discounts available. Infants under 6 mos old are admitted for free.
Sources credit to Maui Butterfly Farm
Photo Credit to Maui Butterfly Farm Tour

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