Limahuli Garden and Preserve

Description

Limahuli lies within a tropical valley covering three distinct ecological zones. The Makana Mountain ridge looms behind, and the Limahuli Stream includes an 800 ft waterfall on its descent from the valley's high end at 3330 ft to sea level just below the garden. The name comes from lima huli which means "turned hand" in the Hawaiian language.

The garden contains a wide range of native and Polynesian-introduced plants, including kukui (Aleurites moluccana), banana, breadfruit, alula (Brighamia insignis), Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera), papala (Charpentiera elliptica), kī (Cordyline fruticosa), turmeric (Curcuma domestica), hāhā (Cyanea hardyi), lama (Diospyros sandwicensis), vegetable fern (Diplazium esculentum), ginger, hau kuahiwi (Hibiscadelphus distans), hibiscus including kokio keokeo (Hibiscus waimeae), kava, koa (Acacia koa), nehe (Lipochaeta succulenta), ōhia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), pokulakalaka (Munroidendron racemosum), kului (Nototrichium divaricatum), hala (Pandanus tectorius), pāpala kēpau (Pisonia wagneriana), plumeria, loulu (Pritchardia limahuliensis), sugarcane, taro, and iliau (Wilkesia gymnoxiphium).

It includes taro terraces (loi kalo) that date back to early Polynesian arrivals on the island. These were part of an ancient ahupuaʻa, a sophisticated land-management and food-production system.

In 1997 Limahuli Garden was selected by the American Horticultural Society as the best natural botanical garden in the United States. In 2007, it received the top "Keep It Hawaii" award from the Hawaii Tourism Authority for its support of the Hawaiian culture, protection and development of Hawaiian knowledge by preservation of natural resources through research, hands-on work, and educational opportunities.

Limahuli Garden is open to visitors. An admission fee is charged. The preserve area is not open to the public. It is inland from the Haʻena State Park and Kee beach off of Route 560 (near its western end) at . The preserve was established with 13 acre donated by Juliet Rice Wichman in 1967 and extended by her grandson Charles "Chipper" Rice Wichman, who were descended from businessman William Hyde Rice and missionary William Harrison Rice. Mount Makana which rises above Limahuli Valley is sometimes called Bali Ha'i, a name used in the 1958 film South Pacific which was filmed on location in the area.

Gallery

Makana Mountain ridge from Limahuli Garden and Preserve, Kauai, Hawaii.JPG|Makana Mountain ridge, as seen from the garden. Brighamia insignis - flowers.JPG|Alula (Brighamia insignis) plant. Lipochaeta succulenta (Limahuli Garden and Preserve).JPG| Hibiscus waimeae (Limahuli Garden and Preserve).JPG|Hibiscus thought to be extinct, rediscovered in the back of the preserve. Wilkesia gymnoxiphium (Limahuli Garden and Preserve).JPG

References

References

1. {{GNIS. 361849
2. {{GNIS. 361850
3. {{Hawaiian Dictionaries. Limahuli
4. ''Limahuli Garden'' (brochure), by Nancy Merrill, Anna Stone, and Evelyn de Buhr, Limahuli Garden.
5. Haiken, Melanie. (August 18, 2022). "Hawaii's ancient land management system". BBC Travel.
6. Haapoja, Margaret A.. (2014). "50th Anniversary for National Tropical Botanical Garden". American Gardener.
7. Jones, Blake. (2007-08-30). "Limahuli Garden wins big".
8. "Limahuli Garden Tours". Limahuli Garden and Preserve.
9. "Limahuli Valley, a Living Legacy". University of Hawaii.
10. Jeanne Cooper. (March 27, 2009). "'Bali Hai' still calling visitors to Hawaii". [[San Francisco Chronicle]].