Maui Agricultural Research Center

The 20-acre Maui Agricultural Research Center perched above Waiakoa village is under the jurisdiction of the University of Hawai'i. It's here that Hawaii's first proteas, natives of South Africa, were established in 1965. You can walk through rows of their colorful descendants, as well as new hybrids under development.

Named for the Greek god Proteus, who was noted for his ability to change form, the varieties on display here are amazingly diverse - some look like oversized pincushions, others like feathers and still others have spinelike petals. Nursery cuttings from the plants here are distributed to protea farms across Hawaii, which in turn supply florists as far away as Europe.

To get here, follow Copp Rd (between the 12- and 13-mile markers on Hwy 37) for half a mile and turn left on Mauna Pl.