Days begin early for Janet Baldwin, owner and operator of Maui Alpaca Farm. “I get up at 4:30 every morning and am out the door by 6 a.m. to check on my animals, [to] make sure they are okay [and] no one has their head stuck in a fence or is sick.” Her busy day continues with a constant flow of responsibilities, including tending to her vegetable crops, answering phone calls, restocking store shelves, and greeting groups of guests who visit her daily. Despite the nonstop nature of her work, she radiates joy when speaking about her animals and farm, creating an atmosphere that feels like a heartfelt invitation for guests to connect with the animals and space she has cultivated and to feel the restorative spirit of this one-of-a-kind sanctuary. 

Born and raised in San Jose, California, Baldwin arrived in the islands forty years ago on a one-way ticket, not knowing anyone or where she would stay. “I felt a calling to come to the islands and fell in love with Hawai‘i from the moment I saw my first plumeria, saw the ocean, and smelled the salty sea breeze,” she recalls. During the coming decades, she met her husband and had two daughters while running a retreat on the family’s agricultural lands. This came to a halt when Maui County officials visited and told Baldwin that the land was not zoned to run retreats. She had an idea to adopt an alpaca and offer yoga and meditation during her retreats, but quickly learned that because alpacas are herd animals, you could not have just one. 

Serendipitously, in 2020, Baldwin saw a notice for a woman selling three female alpacas in Kula, and she jumped on the opportunity. Despite being an animal lover, Baldwin had no prior experience or knowledge of raising alpacas, with the first few days bringing both highs and lows. “The first morning, I went outside to greet them, and I thought they had all died overnight because they were lying flat on the ground. Then, one of them stuck their head up, and I knew they were okay. That is how much I knew about alpacas,” Baldwin recalls. After learning more about her new herd, she signed up for a class to learn about working with fleece and knitting, quickly becoming immersed in the world of fiber arts. “I was 100% in and quickly sold my retreat business. I traveled to the mainland to buy more alpacas because my original three did not have good fleece and could not get pregnant.”

Over the past five years, Baldwin’s farm has grown from her original three alpacas to thirteen who live together in a family-centered herd. During this time, she has also incorporated angora rabbits, another fiber animal, to her farm. As word spread about Baldwin’s unique farm, more people reached out simply wanting to see the animals, spend quiet moments with them, and experience their sweet, calming presence. These gentle interactions naturally evolved into the guided farm experiences and educational opportunities that Baldwin and her team offer.

The most popular experience offered is the Maui Alpaca Farm Visit, which is open to guests of all ages. During this one-hour experience, guests are led through the farm to meet and feed the alpacas in their pasture as well as take photos. Baldwin also incorporates education within this experience by showing how she uses a spinning wheel to process the alpaca fleece before the group heads to the Angora bunny village to pet the soft, sweet bunnies. 

Also offered for guests of all ages is the Maui Alpaca Paniolo Picnic, which spans 1.5 hours. During this unique experience, guests can enjoy a picnic-style lunch in the alpaca pasture as alpacas walk right up for treats and snacks. As you spend time in the pasture, it can quickly become clear that no two alpacas are alike in personality. “There is always a leader of the group, a shy one [and] a mischievous one,” says Baldwin. “There is also a watcher. Kala, one of my females, always knows where I am, even if I try to sneak up on the herd.” 

For guests 12 years and up, Baldwin offers the Maui Alpaca Trek, where she leads small groups for scenic strolls along the slopes of Mt. Haleakalā. During this 1.5-hour-long experience, guests are accompanied by an alpaca companion who keeps pace with them along the trail. This experience is ideal for those looking to slow down and savor the tranquility of Upcountry, Maui. With its relaxed pace and small group setting, guests can truly connect with nature and the animals. After feeding the alpacas and snapping a few photos, the group then heads to the Angora bunny village for an opportunity to snuggle the soft creatures and learn about how their fleece is converted to yarn and then clothing.

Blending Baldwin’s love for animals and fiber arts, she also offers the Maui Alpaca Lifestyle Adventure, which is an immersive, two-hour experience that takes guests on an educational journey as fleece is transformed into clothing. “It is interesting that people do not know, especially kids, that you can shear an animal, process their fleece, and create garments. I think we lost this art along the way, especially since you can easily go to the store and purchase things. I like to teach the old ways of processing and creating things,” says Baldwin.

During the five years since opening her farm, she has learned a lot, both about alpacas and life. “When I offered my retreat business, it was helping people work through their problems and process deep emotions for healing. It is similar to the alpacas because they offer a healing aspect, but there is a lightness with them. After spending time on the farm with the alpacas and the bunnies, people cannot help but leave feeling a little better,” she says. “I think what I love the most about the alpacas is their strong family ties. For me, in this part of my life, family and friends are important. I have been working since I was sixteen years old, and for so many years, that was my focus. Now, I am focusing on my family and friends and creating with my fiber arts. Spinning, knitting, and making things have become my daily practice.”

Looking ahead, Baldwin’s vision extends beyond her farm into the wider community. She hopes to launch local 4-H shows focused on alpacas, complete with certified judges, to create educational opportunities for youth and foster deeper connections between people and animals. Her goal is to offer a supportive, hands-on environment where kids can learn, grow, and be inspired. “It is really about giving back,” she shares. “I am always thinking about what I can do to support the community and help the next generation.”

Maui Alpaca; 505 Auli‘i Drive, Makawao; (808) 500-2577; mauialpaca.com; Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.