HOW THE FARM CAME TO BE-

Many years ago, Dole acquired this land from the Hawaiian people here on the North Shore of O‘ahu, in Waialua. In recent years, they began selling the land back — a powerful shift allowing people to reclaim and restore what was once the native Hawaiian’s lands.

Developers purchased large parcels and began selling these smaller AG parcels. What a blessing to the people and the land. The land is finding its way back into the hands of those who care — regenerative, conscious, forward-thinking people with a deep desire to farm, heal, and restore.

This soil, this sacred land, experienced the tragedy of the old agricultural practices that left it tired and poisoned. But now, it’s breathing again. It’s loved again. Nurtured again. It’s especially sacred for these lands to return to Hawaiian hands. We are rooted here. She is part of us — and for Hawaiian’s, that connection runs deep. The story, Hawaiian lands back in Hawaiian hands, is profound.

My partners and I purchased our piece of this land three and a half years ago. I began by clearing trash and plastics left behind. Cleaning the invasive plants. We then spent years restoring the soil — cleansing it, nourishing it, bringing it back to life. What was once depleted is now thriving and nutrient-rich.

From there came the work of infrastructure — the unseen labor, the time, energy, and resources it takes to lay a foundation for something lasting. We worked to install water lines, fencing, plants, soil, driveways, irrigation, AG support structures- a foundation for the farm.

On our five-acre parcel, under the regulations of the DPP, we’re allowed up to 8,000 square feet of agricultural structures. Under the guidelines of land-use ordinances we are governed on how we use the land and what our farm business can do here in this land. All owners on AG land are required to farm and have farm income. We have step by step walked toward this. Planting, growing to get to the stage to share our food with the community. Every beam, every post, every planting bed is part of a larger vision — a living structure of community, nourishment, and prayer.

Coco & The Sage Farm becomes Nicciʻs value added product and farm business....

Coco & The Sage in Hale‘iwa was my first attempt to build a bridge between the land and the people through food — starting with elixirs. Before that, Coco’s Trading Post Hale‘iwa helped me root myself in the community. Each step was guided by the same calling from God:

“Grow food.”

That call has led me through every season — the soil, the sweat, the slow growth — toward a long-term dream of healing a community through the gut and the heart.

Our main crop will be sage, true to our name, alongside other value-added creations like soaps, candles, and oils. I’d once hoped to work with coconuts too, but our island’s trees are struggling — so for now, Coco will make Sage.

We’re creating lei gardens, growing food and starter plants for our farm stand — which will also carry the name Coco & The Sage.

There are rules and regulations, we are carefully navigating them to honor the guidelines while staying true to our mission. My focus has always been to infuse healing energy — once through goods, now through the soil itself. That same energy moves through every plant and product that we will grow here.

This path has not been easy. It’s been filled with obstacles, delays, and moments of doubt. Yet every time I falter, God reminds me: “Grow food.”

My partners have cultivated a food forest, and I’m following that rhythm — planting, nurturing, building a space of beauty and nourishment. Our production space, surrounded by gardens, food, and sage, will be the heart of my mission.

Each seed we plant moves us closer to the vision — a place of healing through food, fragrance, and faith.

And so it is.
We walk, we grow, and soon it shall be — a place where you can wander, see the gardens, take part of this place and heal.

PARTNERS IN THE LAND-

School friends of Nicciʻs, Aubrey and Brady Yee, also had similar dreams to find agriculture land on the North side of Oahu.  Bradyʻs families history in Waialua dates back to a Grandfather that was a Postmaster and the chief of Police of Waialua. 

Both Yeeʻs and The Mowatʻs shared the dream to clean and honor the land, grow healthy food, and develop space for Spiritual development and healing. 

At the start of 2021 they purchased 5 acres of previously owned Dole land on the Kaukonahua stream.  They began building their dreams.  Nicci & Mahinaʻs under the name of Kiaʻi Farm of Waialua.  The Yeeʻs Farm, Eluawaipili Farm includes a School and a Non- profit Church Temple, The Hokuao Temple.  Two families with two like minded dreams wove together on this sacred land. 

ABOUT NICCI-

Nicci Lee is a Chinese, Hawaiian, Caucasian creative from Oahu.  Her Chinese grandmother's family came to the islands to work in the plantation of Honokaa.  Her Hawaiian Grandfather was a secret revealed by a DNA test after her grandparents and parents had passed.  The DNA test revealed William Kaholokula as her Grandfather.

Nicci's background as a creative is wide ranged. Her career includes Interior Design, Floral Design, furniture design and production, clothing design and production, video production, marketing, building.  Sheʻs the creator and owner of retail shop, Cocoʻs Trading Post, the mocktail/coffee bar, Coco & The Sage and Interior Design studio, Nicci Lee Designs, she shares healing wisdom through Hina Healing and now farming with Kiaʻi Farm of Waialua. Recently Nicci retired from retail to become a full time farmer.  Building her dreams of living with the land and creating natural and healing products.  

niccilee.com, kiaifarmofwaialua.com, cocostradingpost.com, cocoandthesage.com

COCO & THE SAGE ORIGIN-

In May of 2024 Nicci opened a medicinal elixir cafe, Coco & The Sage.  In this beautiful moody bar/cafe they funnel organic fruits and herbs from local farmers through drinks to the community. All drinks are non-alcoholic and medicinal.  They serve organic coffee, tea and dreamy hand crafted mocktails.  In addition the menu hosts aruveydic options as well as certified herbalist tinctures you can add to your drinks.  They are medicine magic makers at this sweet little cafe tucked into their Coco's Trading Post shop in Haleiwa town on the North Shore of Oahu.  

The Sage was recently closed and will be switching gears.  Rather than a retail cafe, Coco & The Sage will morph into a farm experience and a farm market.   She hopes to explore doing farm to table, farm to cup, quaint spaces to relax in Waialua on this sacred and beautiful land.  Guests will also be able to browse their offerings of value added products from the farm.

Look for updates at  www.cocoandthesage.com or IG @cocoandthesage