Ben Field was born and raised on his family farm in Kahaluʻu on the east side of Oʻahu where he grew up helping in the nursery.

It was only after moving to Honolulu to pursue a degree in botany at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa that Ben realized how much his farm life in Kahaluʻu meant to him. His grandparents started farming their nearly 7-acre farm in Kahaluʻu over half a century ago. After two generations before him, Ben has stepped up to work the family land as Māpele Fields. Kahaluʻu, cradled by the Koʻolau Mountains along Kāneʻohe Bay, is a green leeward gem but offers a challenging growing condition with long periods of wet and thick soil. Ben, with his wife Laura, grows plants suited for the soil like bananas, taro, and long-term trees without the use of any pesticides or chemical spray.

Māpele Fields' main crop is cacao which is typically harvested every year between October-March. In between the cacao trees are companion plants like bananas and turmeric (which are quicker growing than cacao and can be harvested before the cacao trees mature). Additionally, the Field family also grows taro, breadfruit, ginger, ʻawa, chocolate sapote, grapefruit, and other specialty fruits.