Mahi Pono

What Mahi Pono does

Mahi Pono is a diversified agriculture company that operates on approximately 41,000 acres of former sugarcane land in Central Maui, Hawaii, growing citrus (limes, lemons, oranges, tangerines, mandarins), coffee, avocado, macadamia nuts, 'ulu (breadfruit), bananas, coconut, lilikoi, and row crops (sweet onions, kale, lettuce, watermelon, pumpkins) under the Maui Harvest consumer brand. The company was established in December 2018 as a joint venture between California-based Pomona Farming LLC and Canada's Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments), acquiring the land from Alexander & Baldwin. Core infrastructure includes the East Maui Irrigation (EMI) 70-mile gravity-fed irrigation system, which Mahi Pono has now fully owned since June 2025, and a 117,000 square-foot M.P. Packing Co. facility with cold storage that opened in late 2023 to grade, clean, size, and pack produce.

The business operates a B2B go-to-market selling wholesale produce and beef to major Hawaii grocery retailers (Costco, Safeway, Foodland, Whole Foods, Walmart, Target, KTA, Times, Sam's Club, Don Quijote, Longs Drugs, ABC Stores), food service companies, restaurants, food hubs (Local Harvest, Farm Link Hawaii, Adaptations, Kahumana, Island Fresh Delivery), and distributors (Armstrong Produce, Kula Produce, Sun Fresh Hawaii). Secondary channels include a Hawaii State DOE partnership for school meals, the Maui Food Bank 'Ai Holo Program, and branded consumer products such as Lion Maui Strong coffee co-developed with Hawaii Coffee Company. Beef is produced through the majority-owned Maui Cattle Company subsidiary, which combines grass-fed and supplemental-feed practices. As of June 2026, Mahi Pono had planted more than 3 million trees on over 14,000 acres, prepared over 9,000 acres of grass pasture, and employed over 400 people, with a stated goal of more than 800 Maui County jobs at full harvest potential. The company does not publicly disclose pricing or revenue.

Name

Mahi Pono

Legal name

Mahi Pono LLC

Website

https://mahipono.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mahi Pono is a Hawaii-based diversified agriculture company that grows citrus, row crops, coffee, and beef on 41,000 acres of former sugarcane land in Central Maui, selling wholesale produce and beef to Hawaii grocery retailers, food service companies, distributors, and institutional buyers under the Maui Harvest brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diversified Agriculture

NAICS

Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112), Orange Groves (11131), Citrus (except Orange) Groves (11132), Animal Production and Aquaculture (112), Fruit and Tree Nut Farming (1113)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Meat Packing Plants (2011), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Rights, Permitting & Compliance Services (Allocations, Reporting) (AFACAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

On-Farm Water Storage & Reservoir/Lagoon Services (Design, Lining, Maintenance) (AFACAFAN)

Keywords

• Diversified agriculture
• Fresh produce farming
• Sustainable row crops
• Citrus orchard operations
• Grass-fed cattle ranching

Headquarters

HQ city

Hawaii National Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Produce Sales: Sale of fruits, vegetables, and agricultural products under the Maui Harvest brand to retail grocery stores, restaurants, and food service companies across Hawaii
2. Cattle Operations: Maui Cattle Company grass-fed beef operations, including cattle ranching and meat production through majority partnership and slaughterhouse acquisition
3. Water Delivery Services: Delivery of water to County of Maui for Upcountry residents and farmers through East Maui Irrigation (EMI) system at subsidized rate

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mahi Pono operates a large-scale diversified farm on approximately 41,000 acres of former sugarcane land in Central Maui, producing non-GMO fresh fruits, vegetables, and grass-fed beef for the Hawaii market. Its consumer-facing Maui Harvest brand delivers citrus (limes, lemons, mandarins, tangerines), onions, watermelon, coffee, avocado, macadamia nuts, bananas, and other crops to major retail grocery chains, food service operators, distributors, and food hubs across the state. Beef is produced and sold through its majority-owned Maui Cattle Company subsidiary, while water is delivered to the County of Maui and Upcountry farmers through the 70-mile East Maui Irrigation system.

Product overview

Mahi Pono is a diversified agriculture company that operates a large-scale farming operation on approximately 41,000 acres of former sugarcane land in Central Maui. The company's product portfolio consists of: (1) the Maui Harvest consumer brand for fresh produce including citrus (limes, lemons, mandarins, tangerines), onions, watermelon, and seasonal crops sold through retail chains statewide; (2) Maui Cattle Company subsidiary for hybrid grass-fed beef production; (3) the M.P. Packing Co. 117,000-square-foot processing facility; (4) Community Farming Program offering land parcels to local farmers; and (5) East Maui Irrigation infrastructure. The company distributes to major retailers (Costco, Safeway, Foodland, Whole Foods, Walmart, Target, KTA, Times, Island Grocery Depot, Don Quijote, Sam's Club, Longs Drugs, ABC Stores) and food hubs, with seasonal produce availability and new product launches throughout the year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Maui Harvest: Consumer-facing brand for Mahi Pono's produce including lemons, limes, sweet onions, watermelon, and other food crops sold at retailers across Hawaii
• Maui Cattle Company

Products and services

• Maui Harvest Fresh Produce Consumer brand under which Mahi Pono sells non-GMO fresh produce including limes, lemons, mandarins, tangerines, oranges, sweet onions, watermelon, kale, lettuce, coffee, avocado, macadamia nuts, bananas, coconut, lilikoi, and 'ulu to grocery retailers, food service companies, and food hubs across the State of Hawaii.
• Maui Cattle Company Grass-Fed Beef Grass-fed and hybrid grass-fed beef produced by Maui Cattle Company, a Mahi Pono majority-owned subsidiary that combines traditional pasture grazing with supplemental feed for higher-quality, nutrient-rich beef products sold in Hawaii.
• East Maui Irrigation Water Delivery Services Water delivery services through the 70-mile gravity-fed East Maui Irrigation system, providing irrigation water to Mahi Pono's Central Maui farm and delivering water to the County of Maui's Department of Water Supply for more than 35,000 Upcountry residents and farmers at subsidized rates.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% reduction in water use compared to sugarcane monocrop
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.

• Hawaii State Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2026Partnership to provide Maui-grown mandarins to Hawaii public schools, offering keiki statewide fresh, locally grown produce while supporting the local agricultural economy.
• Hawaii Food & Wine FestivalcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 July 2025The Hawai'i Food & Wine Festival sources all of its lemons and limes from Mahi Pono. This partnership supports local agriculture and promotes food sustainability across Hawaii's food and beverage industry.
• Hawaii Coffee CompanycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 May 2025Mahi Pono and Hawaii Coffee Company partnered to introduce Lion Maui Strong 100% Maui Coffee, using 100% Arabica beans grown by Mahi Pono. A portion of every purchase is donated to Hawaii Community Foundation's Maui Strong Fund supporting Maui fire recovery efforts.
• Maui Food BankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 June 2024Partnership with Maui Food Bank's 'Ai Holo Program to provide food boxes to 600 keiki across Maui and Lana'i, including produce from Mahi Pono and beef from Maui Cattle Company.
• GoFarm Hawai'istrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2023Mahi Pono leased 15 acres of West Maui agricultural land to GoFarm Hawai'i for its statewide farmer-development training program aimed at increasing Hawaii's agricultural workforce.
• STEMworks Hawai'iminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 December 2021Partnership to present STEMworks Solutions Challenge for Hawaii students to address real-world agricultural challenges. Winners receive paid internship with Mahi Pono.
• Maui Cattle CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMahi Pono became majority partner of Maui Cattle Company and acquired slaughterhouse. Maui Cattle Company pioneers hybrid beef production blending traditional grass-fed practices with supplemental feed, using support from Mahi Pono's farming operations.
• Hawaii Agricultural FoundationstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Hawaii Agricultural Foundation for 'In the Fields' paid summer internship program for high school students, introducing students to farming techniques as Mahi Pono transforms Maui's agricultural model.
• Armstrong ProducecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership to distribute Maui Harvest sweet onions to local retailers
• Kula ProducecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor partnership for Maui Harvest sweet onions
• Sun Fresh HawaiicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor partnership for Maui Harvest sweet onions
• Alexander & BaldwinstrategicOthersSold 41,000 acres of former sugarcane land (HC&S lands) to Mahi Pono in 2018

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Alexander & Baldwin: Hawaii-based land owner and agricultural operator that sold the 41,000-acre HC&S sugarcane lands to Mahi Pono and continues to operate adjacent ag and real estate assets. Most directly comparable in geography, scale, and crop mix.
• Maui Land & Pineapple Company: Hawaii-based diversified agriculture and real estate company with pineapple and other crop operations on Maui. Comparable as a long-standing diversified ag operator in the same island geography with similar exposure to local markets and climate.
• Hali'imaile Pineapple Company: Maui-based pineapple grower operating on former Maui Pineapple Company lands. Comparable as a Hawaii-based specialty crop operator revitalizing former plantation-scale agriculture with local retail and foodservice distribution.
• Kula Country Farms: Maui-based diversified farm producing row crops and value-added products for Hawaii markets. Comparable as a smaller-scale Upcountry Maui operator in the same local retail and agritourism channels.

Direct peers

• Limoneira Company: California citrus grower and packer with integrated farming, packinghouse, and water assets including the Santa Paula water system. Comparable in citrus focus, water-rights complexity, and vertically integrated packing operations.
• Alico, Inc. Florida-based agribusiness combining citrus and cattle ranching on tens of thousands of acres. Comparable as a publicly-traded diversified operator with citrus + cattle integration and long-duration land holdings.

Broad incumbents

• Wonderful Citrus: Largest U.S. citrus grower (part of the Wonderful Company) operating massive orchards, packinghouses, and branded retail programs. Comparable in vertically integrated citrus production, packaging, and national retail distribution at scale.
• Cutrale: Brazilian global leader in orange juice production with integrated groves and processing. Comparable as a large-scale citrus producer integrating farming, processing, and global distribution.
• Dole Food Company: Global fresh produce company with deep Hawaiian agricultural heritage (Dole Plantation) and tropical fruit operations. Comparable as a diversified tropical-produce grower with branded consumer products and integrated supply chain.
• Driscoll's: Largest berry producer globally, operating through a network of independent growers with branded retail presence. Comparable as a large-scale, branded fresh-produce operator with strong retailer relationships and grower-program model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=GPp6Vt7eQnk
• Facebookfacebook.com/mahipono
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mahi-pono
• Instagraminstagram.com/mahipono
• Xx.com/mahipono

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mahi Pono