Maui Bids Aloha to a True Island Treasure
“Ali‘i” Arlington Chang Passes Peacefully at his Home in Kula
KULA, Maui – Ali‘i Arlington Chang, 69, of Kula, Maui passed peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, April 13, 2011. A “Celebration of Life” will be held on Saturday, July 9, 2011 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ali‘i Kula Lavender. Aliʻi is survived by his son, Forrest Koa Chang.
“Our hearts ache, yet we’re comforted and inspired by Ali‘i’s love and his everyday actions that encouraged us all to live life fully and with aloha,” said Lani Weigert, co-owner, Ali‘i Kula Lavender.
Anyone who knew Ali‘i recognized one thing – he was truly a steward of aloha. “He was an old-school, strong-minded, often stubborn Chinese-Hawaiian farmer,” said Weigert. “Yet he was a gentleman committed to an impeccable work ethic who was in-tune with nature, a magnificent storyteller, and unbeknownst to him, a comedian who was a hoot to be around. Above all, he was wise and gifted,” said Weigert.
Folks who knew Ali‘i would agree that everything he touched flourished and turned to gold. “Maui has lost one of its treasures. We’ll miss him very much, but thankfully, his spirit will live on here at Ali‘i Kula Lavender,” Weigert stated.
The staff of Ali‘i Kula Lavender gathered at Ali‘i’s home on Tuesday night for a crew meeting. “He cooked the most delicious and delectable roast with locally-grown vegetables. We all had such an enjoyable evening together,” Weigert shared. It would be the last time the AKL staff would share an evening with him.
Ali‘i came by his green thumb naturally. He grew up on a 20-acre farm in Kāne‘ohe, O‘ahu. He watched and learned from his grandmother who could grow anything placed before her and had a recipe for every crop. Ali‘i would often say, “she made me express art in whatever I did.” The beauty of his work can be seen across the farm’s 13-acre stretch. On any given day, Ali‘i could be found nurturing lavender fields with attention to detail and robust charm. Though his lavender beauties are not native to Maui, they have settled on the majestic Kula mountain under Ali‘i’s care, with style and grace.
Back in March 1976, he opened Ali‘i Gardens Nahiku, an isolated community along the winding Hana Highway on the rainy eastern coast of Maui where Ali‘i grew tropical exotic plants with Hana farmer Howard Cooper of Helani Gardens. In 1992, Ali‘i purchased a protea farm in Kula.
In 2001, Ali‘i was given a single lavender plant by his dear friend Emma Veary. One of Hawai‘i’s most respected vocalists of all time, Veary to this day is affectionately known as “Hawai‘i’s Golden Throat.” Ali‘i planted the herb with the best of intentions and it truly took off! He transformed that farm into his own lavender wonderland – a true work of art that Ali‘i Kula Lavender is today.
“Ali‘i prided himself on having an impeccable and ever-changing canvas for all eyes to see and enjoy,” said Weigert. “He took considerable pride in his work and the work of his staff. Of his many traits, Ali‘i was a true perfectionist.”
Ali‘i’s vision was to create Ali‘i Kula Lavender as the premier purveyor of “Sustainable Aloha” through educational stewardship that nurtured the well-being of our island community while contributing to the well-being of the planet for future generations.
At Ali‘i’s request, no services will be held. A celebration of his life will be held on July 9, a day when Ali‘i, Weigert and their staff plan to hold their First Annual Sustainable Aloha Summer Festival.
Further, the Ali‘i Chang Foundation will be established to provide scholarships for Native Hawaiians pursuing skills training in agriculture and for agricultural education in our local schools. Scholarship recipients should embody the very qualities Ali‘i possessed including a strong work ethic, as well as innate and natural skills in growing plants, flowers, trees and food crops. Applicants should also have an eye for design, a commitment to aloha, hospitality and “aloha ʻāina” or “love for the land.” More information will be posted at www.aklmaui.com
For more information or to make a donation to the Ali‘i Chang Foundation, please contact Lanim@aklmaui.com
