Haleakala Ranch in Hawaii: History, What It Raises, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
Haleakala Ranch on Maui was incorporated on September 1, 1888 and, according to Maui Now, is Maui's largest ranch at about 29,000 acres. It is owned by the descendants of Samuel and Harry Baldwin across five generations, and combines livestock with ecotourism, tenant producers, conservation and renewable energy.
| Location | Upcountry Maui, Hawaii |
|---|---|
| Founded | Incorporated September 1, 1888 |
| Sectors | Cattle and multi-species livestock; ecotourism; tenant farms; conservation |
| Scale | About 29,000 acres |
| Why it is elite | Described as Maui's largest ranch; 125 years of operation in 2013 |
| Ownership | Descendants of Samuel and Harry Baldwin, five generations |
| Official website | Maui Now article on Haleakala Ranch's 125th anniversary |
History of Haleakala Ranch
Haleakala Ranch was incorporated on September 1, 1888, during the reign of King David Kalakaua. Maui Now marked its 125th anniversary in 2013, noting its five generations of Baldwin family ownership.
A 2009 Star-Bulletin report said a ranch gift would preserve 11,300 acres of Haleakala slopes for agriculture.
What Haleakala Ranch Grows and Raises
The ranch runs a multi-species livestock operation and uses holistic grazing to control invasive gorse, alongside a biological control moth for fireweed. It has a 7,000-acre watershed area at Waikamoi under a conservation easement managed by The Nature Conservancy, and belongs to the Leeward Watershed Partnership.
Other tenants on the ranch include Skyline Eco-Adventures, Pony Express Tours, Maui Lavender and Botanicals, Maui Floral Protea and Tropical Flower Farm, Maui Nui Farm and Farmers Market, and Haleakala Distillers.
How Haleakala Ranch Makes Money
Livestock
Cattle and other livestock form the traditional ranching base.
Tenants and ecotourism
Leases to tourism and farm businesses create steady land income.
Renewable energy
Maui Now lists renewable energy as an added land use.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from Haleakala Ranch
Lease land to complementary businesses. Tenants supply income and visitors while the ranch keeps its core grazing.
Link conservation and grazing. Holistic grazing and easements protect forage and watershed.
At 29,000 acres, Haleakala Ranch is the kind of place where a fence line can be a day trip, and farm satire fans will find plenty to love in a cowboy chasing a moth. Head to farm.FM for farm humor, ranch humor and farm jokes with a Maui accent. Even the fireweed moth deserves a punchline.
The outlet behind those laughs, farm.FM, is the nation's first satirical farm site, complete with Tractor Tunes country music for farmers. A farm.FM humorist's archive shows what a week of it looks like.
How to Contact Haleakala Ranch
Website: https://mauinow.com/2013/08/24/haleakala-ranch-celebrates-125th-anniversary/
No official ranch website appeared in the sources reviewed, so a news article is listed. Confirm contact details with the ranch directly. November 2026.
Haleakala Ranch Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Maui Now: 125th anniversary - Coverage of the ranch's history and operations
- Star-Bulletin 2009 - Report on a gift preserving Haleakala slopes for agriculture
- Maui Tomorrow - Local coverage of Maui land issues
- USDA NASS Hawaii Census of Agriculture - State farm numbers and sales from the 2022 Census
- Civil Beat on the Hawaii farm census - Independent coverage of Hawaii agriculture trends
Haleakala Ranch FAQ
How big is Haleakala Ranch?
About 29,000 acres per Maui Now.
When was it founded?
Incorporated September 1, 1888.
Who owns it?
Descendants of Samuel and Harry Baldwin.
How do I contact it?
No official site appeared; confirm directly.
Haleakala Ranch shows how an old Maui ranch blends grazing, tenants and conservation. Read the Hawaii farms guide for context.