The MauiGoose Story: A Dream Takes Flight

Born from a Vision

 

 

 

 

 

 

The MauiGoose story begins with a dream - literally. In 1978, our founder, Verna Kuyper, had a vivid dream of a majestic Nēnē goose, Hawaii's state bird, soaring purposefully through the clouds above her farm. The goose was towing a little wooden cart overflowing with the day's beautiful harvest of flowers. When Verna woke, she knew this was more than a dream - it was her calling. That very day, MauiGoose was born, and instead of becoming a CEO, Verna proudly became our COG - Chief Operating Goose.

Hunalani: Hidden Heaven

Our roots run deep in Hawaiian soil. Verna began MauiGoose on a ten-acre flower farm called Hunalani, meaning "Hidden Heaven," nestled on the cool, misty slopes of Maui's Mount Haleakala. Here, she cultivated 17 varieties of exotic protea - stunning flowers that are part of a larger family of over 1,500 varieties grown in South Africa and Australia, but recently introduced to Maui in the 1970s. The farm was truly a hidden paradise where Hawaiian tradition met botanical innovation.

Dreams Becoming Reality

When Verna discovered that FedEx's fastest service could preserve the pristine beauty and freshness of her island flowers during shipping, another dream took flight. Suddenly, she could share Hawaii's natural artistry with families across the mainland and Canada. The Nēnē goose from her dream was now truly flying with purpose, carrying Hawaiian aloha far beyond the islands.

Bridging Islands and Mainland

Today, while MauiGoose operations are based in North Carolina, every flower still comes directly from our trusted Hawaiian farms. Verna's deep connections to the islands remain unbroken - she visits frequently and maintains constant communication with our growers, ensuring that the aloha spirit and quality she established decades ago continues in every lei we create.

A Legacy of Aloha

For nearly 30 years as MauiGoose (1995-present), we've been more than a business - we're keepers of Hawaiian tradition, sharing the islands' natural beauty and cultural significance with families celebrating life's most precious moments. Our journey began even earlier, with Verna's wholesale flower business, Hawaii Protea Cooperative and The Protea Gift Shop (1978-1993), before evolving into the online MauiGoose experience. Today, Verna's son Scott 'Kavika' has joined the MauiGoose ohana, bringing fresh energy to revive and expand his mother's dream while honoring the authentic traditions she established. Together, they continue Verna's original vision of that Nēnē goose, spreading aloha and carrying Hawaiian heritage to new generations of families celebrating life's most meaningful moments.