Lilia Tollefsen helps me shimmy a small milo tree from its pot, the soft dirt crumbling between my fingers. Before I place the fragile plant, the one I had selected from a few others, into the hole already dug for me, she says to wait. I get the feeling something important is about to happen. […]
It feels like I’m descending into another world. One step onto the steep 500-foot-long boardwalk at the entrance of Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden and I am transported back in time. Leaving the modern world behind, I follow the walkway to the bottom of the valley. There’s a canopy of trees above me, and I’m enveloped
If you’re still wondering why Kauai is called The Garden Isle, look no further than these Top 5 botanical gardens. With picturesque views and one-of-a-kind plant collections, these spots from our 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards prove the island is worthy of its name. 1. Allerton Garden Photo: Getty Images Nestled in the Limahuli (which means
There I was, standing in front of the Historic County Building in downtown Lihue one afternoon last November, wrapping a tape measure around the thick trunk of an old kukui when I realized it was official: I am a tree hugger. That’s not a big surprise. I grew up in the Midwest climbing trees. This
In Hawaii, we do our best to malama da aina, which is a phrase that loosely translates out to “respect the land.” And why wouldn’t we? Our lands are stunning, with perfectly blue beaches and lush valleys, we want to keep things the way they are. So here are a few of the ways you can celebrate
Folks, you’re looking at history in the making. This photo, captured by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), consisting of eight radio telescope observatories around the world working together, is the first ever image we’ve seen of an actual black hole—or rather, the silhouette of the black hole against the bright material surrounding it. Two Hawaii
Have you seen them fluttering around Honolulu’s busy streets? White as snow, Honolulu’s white fairy terns are a common sight. But these birds are more than just adorable avians with pale feathers, dark black eyes and really cute chicks. They’re connected to Hawaii’s history and culture, and have become icons of adoration for many of
Every fall and winter, humpback whales migrate to Hawaii to mate and give birth. Their presence doesn’t go unnoticed. Measuring up to 60 feet in length and weighing up to 40 tons, these marine mammals are hard to miss. And, yet, they can be quite shy when it comes to their reproductive activities in Hawaii
As is always the case in conservation, there’s good news—and there’s bad news. Let’s start with the bad. A Hawaiian tree snail named George, the last known member of the species Achatinella apexfulva, died on New Year’s Day. He was 14 and likely the last of his kind in the world. Researchers could never find
Every winter from November through May, between 10,000 and 12,000 North Pacific humpback whales make the six-week journey south from Alaska to bask in Maui’s warm waters. They’re here to mingle, mate and give birth—and it all takes place just a couple miles off Maui’s leeward coast. It’s one of nature’s most mesmerizing shows, and
For the past 25 years, Hawaii Forest and Trail has cultivated a reputation for fun, knowledgeable tours of some of Hawaii Island’s most thrilling locales. Founded by husband and wife, Rob and Cindy Pacheco, their company is known for taking visitors and residents on adventurous activities, such as stargazing atop Mauna Kea and hiking on
If you’ve ever hiked Koko Crater Trail, you have probably seen the wear and tear the trail is going through. Many of the stair treads, which are actually the remains of a long abandoned tramway, are rotting away, and volunteers have even replaced some with bricks and stone slabs. Seeing hundreds of hikers a day,
