*TravelWorld International Magazine Spring 2024

n the glide up the Wailua
River, framed in Hau
trees peppered with
yellow blooms, the guide
shared the history of the
river. The short walk to the grotto is
lined with deep red spikes of torch
ginger. It is a touristy attraction, but
the warm voice of a Hawaiian woman
singing Hanalei Moon and the Hawaiian
wedding song sparked tears.
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There are many varieties of Hibiscus in Hawai’i. They are all
introduced. Still, these flowers are loved by the Hawaiian people who
have chosen the happy yellow bloom to be their state flower.
Scarlet
spikes
of Torch
Ginger line
the path to
the Fern
Grotto
where
weddings
have taken
place for
fifty years.
You don’t
have to get
married to
enjoy the
tranquil
stroll to the
fern grotto.
Many
varieties
of orchid
are seen
clinging to
the trees
throughout
the Allerton
Garden.
The
guided
tour takes
you are a
leisurely
stroll
along the
banks of
the Lawa’i
River and
through
unique
garden
rooms
designed
by John
Gregg.
These
enormous
Amazonia
fig trees
have
massive
roots.
Jurassic
Park was
filmed in
this section
of the
garden.
On the sunny side of the Island
of Poipu, you will find the most
extraordinary gardens. Most travelers
go to Spouting Horn Blow hole at the
end of Lawa’i Road, but just across
the street is the less-known National
Botanical Garden, also known as the
Allerton/McBride Garden, which became
open to the public in the 1990s.
Robert Allerton and his partner John
Gregg, an architect, purchased the
Lawa’i Valley in 1938 for $50,000.
Robert inherited millions that he and
John spent gathering tropical trees
and plants from around the globe that
flourished in the nurturing climate of
Kauai. They gathered statuary from
Florence and Rome to decorate the
garden rooms John designed. Graceful
paths meandering through the garden
take you through orchards of fruit
trees, cascading water features, and
towering trees along the banks of the
Lawai’i stream. The docent-led tour
through what must be one of the most
magnificent gardens in the world, was
a highlight of my visit to Kauai. Steven
Spielberg must have agreed because he
rented the park for three months to film
Jurassic Park.
An aside is that Robert and John were
partners in life, and gay marriage was
not an option. The answer? Robert
adopted John making him his heir. John
outlived Robert and when he died, he
bequeathed the Allerton Garden to the
state for all of us to enjoy.
The Keahua Arboretum is home to rainbow eucalyptus trees, so named because their bark is a swirl of colors
lesser-known garden
is the Keahua
Arboretum, where
rainbow-colored
Eucalyptus trees may be found.
The narrow road through the
mountains and lush foliage
over a wooden bridge to get to
the garden provide a taste of
less-traveled old Hawai’i. Trails
lead from the park for the more
adventurous. It is often rainy at
this site, so be prepared with
Just one of
the many
water
elements in
the garden
rooms
designed
by John
Briggs.
Creative
designs
flow from
one level of
the garden
rooms to
the next
with a
magical
effect.
hiking boots and a slicker. The
Arboretum is planted with native
and introduced plants by the
University of Hawaii and used
as an outdoor classroom for
students and visitors. Cool off in
the cold mountain spring water
and enjoy lunch at one of the
numerous picnic sites scattered
throughout the park.
I have listed special gardens,
but all of Kauai is a part of God’s
garden. On a drive through the
mountains, you will see Lili koi
vines blanketing the trees with
a profusion of pink blossoms
hanging down like Christmas
bells. Vivid red blooms of the
O’hia pepper tree brighten the
scene. The perfume of plumeria
wafts on a gentle sea breeze. You
will likely run into an afternoon
shower that keeps the flowers
smiling like the yellow hibiscus
(the state flower) that welcomes
visitors to the blessed shores of
water-rich Kauai.
Shady nooks, fern grottos and water elements line the meandering
paths throughout the Allerton Garden.
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