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The MAiZE
The MAiZE at Kapolei covers 5.2 acres on Aloun Farms
land, with 1.76 miles of pathway (0.72 for the solution
route) bordered by 170,000 corn plants.

MAiZE with
local flavor

Kapolei maze has a
petroglyph and ocean theme

---

By Nadine Kam
Star-Bulletin

Agriculture was serious business to Nancy Andrus and her brother Brent Herbst while growing up on a farm in Idaho, helping their parents raise hay and field corn for cattle.

These days, a growing agri-tainment industry has them designing and cutting mazes across the country.

RUN THROUGH IT What: The MAiZE When: Through Nov. 15; 4 to 10 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, 4 to 11 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays Where: Take H-1 to Kapolei/Makakilo exit, turn left until you reach Farrington Highway, turn left onto the highway, driving about 2-1/2 miles Prices: $8 for 12 and up, $5 for ages 6 to 11, free for 5 and under Call: 677-9412

Herbst started with one maze in Utah 1996, followed by three in 1997, 17 in 1998 and 27 in 1999. By year's end, he will complete another 61. Andrus helps with management.

Their latest creation can be seen in The MAiZE in Kapolei. This is the second the brother-and-sister team have created in Hawaii on Alec Sou's Aloun Farms land.

This year, the maze has an ocean theme, with petroglyph-style surfers and canoe paddlers, sea turtles and dolphins frolicking in waves.

"We try to come up with ideas unique to the area," said Andrus. "We asked Alec what he wanted to get in, then Brent came and executed the cutting.

"What he does is a secret, but one of the tricks that makes it easier is he cuts it when the plants are small, knee-high. Then the paths are easier to maintain."

Mazes are fairly new in America, and even without the opportunity to go through one, Andrus was fascinated by them as a child.

"I read about the Minotaur. I watched 'The Shining.' I thought the maze was really cool. I love to go through them now."

She and her siblings also enjoyed doing puzzles. "With 13 kids in the family, we had to find ways to entertain ourselves that were inexpensive."

Although many believe the trick to getting through the maze is to keep one shoulder to a left or right wall at all times, you can throw that "rule" out right now. Andrus said there are two bridges that force people to choose between crossing over or under, "and that defies the law. We put a lot of twists in there to keep people lost."

They succeeded so well last year, many people ended up crashing through the walls to get out. Andrus said they did a denser planting this year. "We can't increase the strength of a corn stalk, but we could make it less inviting for them to plow through."

The corn on the stalks is up for grabs, though Andrus said the field corn -- raised for its height, growing up to 12 feet vs. 6 feet for edible varieties -- is meant to be used as cattle feed, not human food.

"It's safe to eat, but it's not the sweet corn you'd want to eat. Or at least I wouldn't."

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