Grass Varieties for Your ‘Home Field’
Upgrade your backyard with the latest exclusive products and services from Hawaiian Turfgrass.
What do NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts have in common with Hawaiian Turfgrass founder Sean Aukanai‘i Fong? Besides doing some of their best work on grass, they’re all hardworking, dedicated to their crafts and experts in their fields.
Fong is excited to introduce local homeowners to Stadium Zoysia and Tahoma 31 Bermuda, the newest grasses available at the Hawaiian Turfgrass farm in Mililani. These verdant sod options, found in top-notch professional sports stadiums, on commercial golf courses and more, can be installed right in your own yard by the Hawaiian Turfgrass team.
“We have new varieties that give people options that require less maintenance, less water, less fertilizer, looks nicer, greener color — traits that people want and desire,” says Fong. “We are a licensed grass company. We specialize in transforming lawns.”
The Hawaiian Turfgrass team offers “turnkey options” for landscape installation for its customers, assisting with everything from soil prep to sprinklers.
Stadium Zoysia is growing in popularity with Island residents who want an elevated alternative to the standard El Toro Zoysia found in most yards. Fong is particularly eager to educate customers on the premium properties of Stadium Zoysia, a beautifully fine, textured grass that can handle heavy foot traffic and activities. This variety’s rich emerald hue is aesthetically attractive, and its high-density growth will keep your lawn looking full year-round.
Hawaiian Turfgrass recently installed Stadium Zoysia at a home in Koa Ridge in Central Oahu. And with a deep root system and good drought-tolerance level, it’s perfect for lawns in drier climates, and “can tolerate growing conditions from mauka to makai,” according to the Hawaiian Turfgrass website. The company is the exclusive local supplier of Stadium Zoysia.
“We want grasses that people are talking about, that are being put in all these high-profile projects,” says Fong. “And that’s how I chose the grasses that I’ve brought here to Hawaii.”
With a passion for agriculture that began while growing up in Hilo, Fong originally wanted to start his own plant nursery. Instead, he jumped into the world of “turfgrass management.” A class on the subject at the University of Hawaii at Manoa was part of the journey to his degree in tropical plant and soil science, and became the turning point that inspired Fong to launch Hawaiian Turfgrass.
“Everything I did, from that time, was building my business from nothing,” he says.
Stadium Zoysia, shown in this local lawn, is a greener and low-maintenance alternative to the standard El Toro Zoysia.
Today, the family-run enterprise serves the community through its 67-acre farm. Retail and wholesale options are available for Hawaiian Turfgrass’ mainstay inventory of Captiva St. Augustine, SeaStar Seashore Paspalum and El Toro Zoysia. In addition to Stadium Zoysia, the new Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass is fresh on the Hawaiian Turfgrass roster — this company exclusive is a great choice for homeowners who want the sturdy sod seen at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, home fields of the NFL Eagles and Chiefs, respectively.
Hawaiian Turfgrass also offers landscape contractor services with “turnkey options” for home installation of its grasses. Fong and his crew can assist homeowners with uprooting existing vegetation, soil prep and leveling, and sprinkler arrangements.
“We believe this is an investment for people, so we don’t want to skip any steps,” notes Fong. “We want to set our customers up for success for the long run.”
Online ordering is available 24/7 on the Hawaiian Turfgrass website, hawaiianturfgrass.com. Hawaiian Turfgrass delivers statewide. Call Fong at (808) 371-0527 to schedule an appointment, and ask about Hawaiian Turfgrass’ $500 discount on installation with purchase. (License #C-32884)
Editor’s Note: This article has been slightly modified from the original print version for optimal online reading. To view the full print story, pick up your copy of Hawaii Home + Remodeling at one of our partner locations.
