On the drive to Waimanalo beaches and Kailua, we noticed a little farm on the left hand side right after Baby Makapuu a while ago. Last week we drove by and noticed that it had considerably grown and even had a cute little sign and decided to pull over. We were glad we did otherwise we would have never known there was a little story behind this hidden gem.
Claude Colton does not look Hawaiian judging by his looks, but if you spend 5 minutes with him, you will see that he is as Hawaiian in the heart than anybody could dream to be. Claude's uncle inherited a a generous amount of mountain land through the Hawaiian Homestead Act. The homesteads are portion of land in Hawaii dedicated to the native Hawaiians since the early 1920's. Claude, a natural born farmer and owner of the Colton Farms does not have TVor internet, and jokes that his address is the Big Papaya Tree-- or at least I think he was joking. He has come a long way in building his ocean front road side animal farm. Claude explains that throughout the year, Colton Farms have almost become an animal shelter for injured or rejected animals. He takes all kinda of animals and in all sorts of condition. There is a little donation box where you can put money in, and feed the goats some hay, but other than that, he labors for love to keep his farm alive.
Claude Colton does not look Hawaiian judging by his looks, but if you spend 5 minutes with him, you will see that he is as Hawaiian in the heart than anybody could dream to be. Claude's uncle inherited a a generous amount of mountain land through the Hawaiian Homestead Act. The homesteads are portion of land in Hawaii dedicated to the native Hawaiians since the early 1920's. Claude, a natural born farmer and owner of the Colton Farms does not have TVor internet, and jokes that his address is the Big Papaya Tree-- or at least I think he was joking. He has come a long way in building his ocean front road side animal farm. Claude explains that throughout the year, Colton Farms have almost become an animal shelter for injured or rejected animals. He takes all kinda of animals and in all sorts of condition. There is a little donation box where you can put money in, and feed the goats some hay, but other than that, he labors for love to keep his farm alive.
I have never been much of an animal person but my son believes that he is an animal himself, and was over the moon with this experience. I have to admit though that I could not stop smiling the whole time I was there seeing the rescued animals in such good hands, and of course, half wishing I was at least a little Hawaiian so I could one day own half a mountain.
I didn't want to leave, and if the heat didn't force us out, I think I would still be there talking story with my new buddy Claude. I kept trying to give him ideas to get on instagram and start a blog or even a Kickstarter for his farm and realized he had no interests in that nor know what I was even talking about. He was however, open to building the farm, maybe opening up to something bigger. So here I am, taking it up on myself to tell you about this wonderful little farm tucked away in Waimanalo, with big dreams, so much potential, and a farm that's really old school. It's for the animals, before the people.
