We are very excited to announce yet another double header event, and this time on the west side.
HIPS is invited into the garden of HIPS board member Gunnar Hillert for the first time, while the famous Mana Mauka garden of Dean Ouer has been an ever changing, long time HIPS favorite. There will be a chance for you to break for lunch between gardens, a list of recommendations for a tasty and quick bite will be provided.
Save the date: November 16th. More information will be provided as time gets closer.
Mana Mauka
Located at a cooler elevation near the northern end of the Kona Coffee Belt is one of
HIPS favorite gardens. This elevation on the “dry” side of the island is often graced with afternoon showers and allows for a an extensive natural forest. And it is here that long time IPS Member (and 15 year IPS PalmTalk Forum Admin/Moderator) Dean Ouer has worked on enhancing his 3 acre forested property with palms, aroids, and other tropical fauna for 14 years.
HIPS last toured Dean's garden in 2016
The International Palm Society toured Dean's garden in 2022
The Hillert Garden
Located in the coffee belt of Holualoa at an elevation of 560m (1850ft) overlooking Kailua-Kona in what might be one of the wettest locations on the dry side of Hawai‘i Island.
The 4 acre tropical garden is home to a diverse collection of tropical and subtropical plants from around the world. The garden's palm collection contains over 400 individual palms, covering over 250 different species (defined as taxa on the species level and/or below) from across more than 100 genera.
The palms are, in general, less than 9 years old, which gives you the chance to have a 1:1 conversation with them at eye level as most palms have not evolved into telephone poles just yet.
Besides palms, the garden also contains an extensive collection of tropical fruit trees and other ornamental plants comprising almost 500 different species across 250 genera and 67 plant families.
The previous owners won several awards for the landscaping such as the Betty Crocker and Scenic Hawaii Foundation, Award of Excellence for landscaping for the best Residential State award in 2012 and the Kona Outdoor Circle for Beautification and Conservation award in 2009.
