Goats galore in Maui: enterprise yields quality tours, cheese and more
- Christene Meyers
- Jun 25
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 8
CREATIVE ENDEAVOR WITH GOATS IS PERFECT FIT FOR ALBERTA BORN ENTREPRENEUR
STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS
PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER
IF YOU LOVE goats, you will be in billy goat heaven at Maui's lively Surfing Goat Dairy.
It's an appealing place to spend a few hours. We toured with manager-owner Jay Garnett, who bought the business from a German couple in 2023. They retired, leaving a legacy of goats, surf boards, and a successful dairy which Garnett is expanding in creative ways.
The project came together as Garnett was recovering from a polo accident and had time to research his plan to make a life change. Doing his homework, he found the Maui place for sale and began negotiations. The rest is history.
GARNETT IS hands on -- literally.
He feeds the goats, delivers their babies, arranges tours, caters lunches and tastings, sweeps, milks, shovels poop and repairs what needs fixing. He is an idea man, people oriented and constantly expanding the business.
He works with the dairy's veterinarian to give the guys and gals their vaccinations. His intuition and eagle eye -- call it goat ESP -- can detect if one of the herd needs attention, doctoring or other special care. He has assisted in delivering hundreds of kids -- including several sets of twins and even triplets. He also acts as chief marketer for the dairy's fabulous goat cheese and goat truffles.
HOW DID the place its catchy name?
"The German couple who started it in 1999 shared two interests -- goats and wind surfing. The name was catchy and it fits the spirit of island life," says Garnett, who owns and manages the place with a small group of Canadian investors.
He took over the enterprise a few years ago, with high hopes. He also admits to a sentimental attachment to Maui, where he was married 30 years ago.
Moving to the verdant slopes of this beautiful part of Hawaii, he has made it grow by goat leaps and bounds. The original owners retired nearby and Thomas and Eva Kafsack, occasionally come to visit and keep an eye on the progress of their pet project, Garnett says. "Eva considers the goats her children."
She, like Garnett, likes to hand-feeds the goats, and Garnett has learned as Eva did to be midwife, helping deliver the newborns in birthing frenzies when the females go into labor en masse.
"They tend to give birth at the same time, so the place can be really jumping," Garnett says. He recalls one birthing period when he
helped deliver more than two dozen kids over a period of just a few hectic, demanding hours.
Garnett, 53, is a man of broad and varied interests. He has had his hand in myriad businesses -- coffee growing, online grocery operations and liquor imports. He once helped a cannabis company go public.
He got into the goat business because it interested him. "It has so many facets," he said. "I like doing whatever needs to be done on the farm. Every day is new
-- always something different. He demonstrates this by excusing himself from the goat pens to step behind the counter and arrange catering plates for a reception.
SURFING GOAT Dairy is nestled near Kula, on the slopes of Haleakala in what is called "Maui’s Upcountry." Maui’s largest commercial dairy is known throughout the islands. "We are a culinary and ag-tourism haven where visitors are welcome to experience the magic of cheese-making," says Garnett. We joined a couple tours, part of the interactive goat experience. Our trek around the grounds included watching workers in the dairy, visiting the truffle counter, sampling delectable goat cheeses, playing with the kids. The dairy has won awards for its gourmet goat cheeses, always in high demand. "And we're proud of our gourmet truffles," says Garnett. "We're committed to quality, flavor, and the spirit of aloha."
The subtle flavors, he says, are developed from the combination of uncommon breeds and the rich land that nourishes them.
GARNETT IS also making structural changes to improve the property, expanding the existing store, increasing its offerings and building space for new products. The unique goat cheeses are popular all around the area, with much of the business going to restaurants and eateries.
"We're always looking at new products, new markets," he says.
MORE THAN 25,000 tourists came to the farm last year. We also visited nearby attractions -- the Aliʻi Kula Lavender farm and Ocean Vodka. The changes Garnett is making will increase tourism for his enterprise, he hopes, adding a tasting area and sprucing up the reception space. He combines
his sharp eye and creative instincts with a love of nature, all of which add appeal. His busy staff is on the go and he supervises. Someone is always planting flowers, tidying up the space. The intention is to pump up the user friendly angle. "I'm people oriented. I think what I would like to see if I were visiting a place for the first time," he says, between wrestling a playful goat into a pen and instructing tourists on the proper way to pick up a young kid." (Use both arms and always support the critter's frame.)
It's a magical place, sure to open your heart and mind to the wonderful world of goats.
UP NEXT: Fourth of July fun is on tap. Celebrations, parades, barbecues, reunions, shenanigans, fireworks and more are planned next week as our country -- and Americans in other parts of the world -- celebrate the Fourth of July week. Tourists hit the road, families gather and people relax and celebrate our country's official birthday. Pride in the heritage of our great nation can be felt and seen and the USA is not the only place where fireworks celebrate our Fourth of July. Ex-pat enclaves, like the one in Paris, have fireworks celebrations, too. We'll take you to some of them as we live, laugh and learn. Check us out for a fresh weekly spin on travel, nature, performance and the arts. Please share our links with like minded people:
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