PARADISE KEPT
Nestled at the base of the mountains on the north coast of Kauai is a garden that not only shows off the diverse wonder of Hawaii’s plants, but it also educates visitors about the delicate balance of this fragile tropical habitat, preserves the history of the island and literally goes to daring heights to protect native species.
The Limahuli Garden and Preserve rests at the seaward end of a 1,000-acre valley that is flanked by dramatic 2,000-foot-tall cliffs. Limahuli Valley has awed people for centuries, finding a role in ancient Hawaiian songs, proverbs and legends. Today, the gardens and the pristine beauty of the surrounding area exist thanks to the foresight and generosity of the families of the. This system divided the land into roughly equal wedges from mountain to sea. Each wedge, called an ahupua’a, was allotted to a self-sufficient family group who cultivated and foraged the land, fished the shores and protected Limahuli Stream as a provider of food, fresh water and building materials.
