Our Story
Ifiele’ele Plantation is run and managed by Fogalepolo (Paul) Lepou and Joan Macfarlane. Born in New Zealand, Paul is of Samoan descent. Joan originally hails from Melbourne. Paul was in the New Zealand army for 20 years before venturing into overseas development work in Africa, the Middle East and the Pacific. Joan is a public health professional and also worked in the Pacific before coming to Samoa.
In 2009, Paul and Joan came to Samoa and embarked on the challenge of developing Paul’s family landholding of 15 acres, thereby fulfilling a life-long dream of Paul’s mother. Paul’s mother, Su’a Siaposuisui Faiga, was the family matai and one of the high-ranking chiefs in Fasitoo-Uta. Sadly, Su’a passed away in February 2020 but her legacy lives on at Ifiele’ele Plantation.
After 13 years of hard work we have many amusing tales of adventure to tell, have built a stunning home and living complex and developed much of the plantation. We have owned and lost 2 adorable dogs, Bomba and Missy, and then rescued 2 more, Toby and Tiga. Cleo, the resident feline, keeps the dogs in line. We have a herd of 10 goats (at last count). We have a Muscovy duck for whom we are looking for a mate so we can expand the flock.
Our plantation is organically certified. Crops include Tahitian Limes, Papaya, Banana, Pineapple, Mango and a variety of other citrus and fruit trees. We continue to cultivate more land as time goes by.
Our local staff make a tremendous contribution at Ifiele’ele. We have 2 delightful house girls who provide cleaning services 5 days a week and 5 hard-working plantation hands who harvest fruit on a daily basis and help to maintain the extensive grounds and the plantation.
Together, Paul, Joan and the local staff welcome you to Ifiele’ele Plantation in Samoan style – talofa lava, afio mai.
Joan & Paul
Our local staff make a tremendous contribution at Ifiele’ele. We have 2 delightful house girls who provide cleaning services 5 days a week and 5 hard-working plantation hands who harvest fruit on a daily basis and help to maintain the extensive grounds and the plantation.
Together, Paul, Joan and the local staff welcome you to Ifiele’ele Plantation in Samoan style – talofa lava, afio mai.
Joan & Paul