“We loved seeing the caterpillars and learning how they developed, and then watching the beautiful butterflies flying…”
Verified Review
Nestled just outside Lahaina in West Maui, this 45-minute educational farm tour invites guests of all ages into Hawai‘i’s only walk-in butterfly flight house. Limited to just 10–12 participants per session, the experience offers a close-up look at the life cycle of butterflies—from caterpillar to chrysalis—and gives you the chance to gently hold and feed them. Perfect for families, nature lovers, and curious minds alike, it’s a quiet, magical moment to connect with Maui’s pollinators and learn about ongoing conservation efforts.
GUEST REQUIREMENTS
For all ages, group size limited to 13 guests.
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Easy
WHAT TO BRING
Sun protection
CANCELLATION POLICY
Changes or cancellations must be made 24 hours prior.
WHAT GUESTS ARE SAYING
4.9★ from 240+ reviews on TripAdvisor
Visitors describe this tour as sweet, quiet, and surprisingly eye-opening — a gentle break from Maui’s beaches and busy roads. Reviews often mention how patient and friendly the guides are, especially with kids who love seeing the caterpillars up close. Many highlight the calm pace and how magical it feels to stand inside the flight house surrounded by butterflies landing softly on shoulders and fingers. Guests say they leave with a deeper respect for these small creatures and the native plants they rely on.
Visit Hawaii’s only walk-in butterfly flight house and learn about how we are trying to save Hawaii’s hugely declining butterfly population.
This hands-on educational experience features 🐛 caterpillars, chrysalis, and butterflies 🦋.
Butterflies bring joy to everyone around them. Our hands-on tours promote education not only about the environment, but also regarding insects, the benefits of butterflies, and the ways in which to take care of our ‘aina here in Hawaii.
All available spots are shown in real time. Only open spots will be available to book. We cannot accommodate any additional guests who do not have a pre-booked spot.The Maui Butterfly Farm is the only live butterfly farm in Hawaii, created to protect and nurture native butterfly species through hands-on conservation and gentle education. This small, family-run farm invites guests into a living garden where you can hold caterpillars, watch chrysalises, and learn about the fragile balance that keeps Hawaii’s native pollinators alive. The team’s passion for butterflies and local ecology makes each visit feel like stepping into a tiny sanctuary — part science, part wonder.
Location: The Maui Butterfly Farm, 820 Olowalu Village Rd, Lahaina, HI 96761
Check-In: Arrive a few minutes early. Check in with the staff at the small farm stand — your guide will meet you there to begin the tour.Please note- we are a small husband/wife family run business and each guided tour is limited to a very small amount of guests. Our tours are typically sold out and when a guest books, one spot is reserved specifically for them and their spot is then blocked out to other potential bookings. Our tour guides are pre booked to accommodate your individual tour. *Therefore we are unable to offer ANY refunds to guests that cancel within 24 hours of the beginning of their tour time. For the same reason no call, no shows and guests arriving at the wrong tour time or date will be charged in full and refunds will not be given. Mahalo for the understanding!
FOLIO TRAVELOGUE
Hand‑Held Wings: A Butterfly Farm Encounter in West Maui
Pulling off Olowalu Village Road feels like stepping into a secret garden. At the small blue farm stand—you know, the one right next to Leoda’s and the General Store—we gather under the shade of tropical foliage. Our guide, with a soft voice and quick smile, welcomes our group of ten and launches right into butterfly beginnings.
Walking through racks of lush plants, we spot shimmering wings: monarchs, swallowtails, fragile native beauties. The guide gently places caterpillars in our palms, then photographs the moment when a butterfly lands of its own choice. Hands quiver with delight. We feed the butterflies slices of orange from our fingers, marveling at how each sip sustains them.
“Watching a butterfly choose your finger—that’s the kind of calm magic you don’t forget.”
Between fluttering wings, we learn how weather and invasive plants have imperiled Hawaii’s butterflies—and what this little farm does to help. The hush of the flight house, broken only by murmurs of wonder, feels sacred. A child asks where the butterflies go at night; our guide replies, “They go dancing among stars we can’t see.”
As we exit, a lone moth brushes my jacket—an unexpected farewell. If Maui is a mosaic of experiences, this one is a quiet tile, tiny wings held in your hands and a story carried in your heart.
