Limahuli Garden wins big

Limahuli Garden and Preserve, part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, took home top honors from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s ‘Keep It Hawai‘i’ ceremony yesterday.

The Tourism Authority selected Limahuli as the sole recipient of the Koa Award, which was created to recognize a long-term and exemplary commitment to perpetuating and preserving Hawai‘i’s host culture.

Limahuli Garden and Preserve honors the tradition of the Limahuli Valley, where ancient Hawaiians built agricultural terraces out of lava rock and planted cultivars of kalo, or taro, according to the Botanical Garden’s Web site.

Limahuli Garden is also home to other plants that were significant to the early inhabitants as well as native species.

“From its inception, the vision for Limahuli is to serve as a living classroom where current and future generations can learn about the ancient Hawaiian plants and culture in the spectacular beauty of their natural setting,” Limahuli director Kawika Winter said via e-mail.

According to National Tropical Botanical Garden spokeswoman Janet Leopold, the garden and preserve is home to many threatened native species, and restoration of the area has worked to remove invasive species.

“We believe (Limahuli) was one of the first place that the settlers settled on Kaua‘i, and these taro terraces have been carbon-dated back to that period in time,” Leopold said.

Upon entering Limahuli, visitors see first the ancient lava rock. A tour of the garden also reveals different planting areas that focus on both Polynesia-introduced and plantation-era plants that represent Kaua‘i’s ancient and more recent past.

Limahuli will also be the site of a future native forest area.

“Most people have never seen what a Hawaiian native forest looks like,” Leopold said.

Limahuli Garden and Preserve was just one of many organizations, businesses and individuals honored at the Keep It Hawai‘i ceremony at the Hawai‘i Convention Center on O‘ahu.

“Our host culture is what makes our islands not just special, but truly unique. The Keep It Hawai‘i program is an excellent way for us to recognize and thank those in our community who perpetuate the Hawaiian culture through programs for both residents and visitors,” Rex Johnson, president and CEO of HTA said in a company statement.

Other recipients include:

Big Island

• Edith Kanaka‘ole Foundation for indigenous cultural awareness.

• ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i for using Hawaiian language as medium for learning.

Maui

• Ho‘aka Delos Reyes for focusing on kalai pohaku, or stone carving.

• Maui Nei Native Expeditions for its educational programs.

O‘ahu

• Richard “Babe” Bell as a master conch shell blower.

• Roy Sakuma, a prominent ‘ukulele instructor and aficionado.

• Kamehameha Schools’ annual song contest.

• Hula Preservation Society’s kapuna documentation.

• Brothers Cazimero’s “30 Years of May Day” celebration.

• Hana Hou! magazine, the in-flight magazine of Hawaiian Airlines.

• ‘Ilima Hotel’s Mahala Pua O ‘Ilima, a program that guides the hotel’s daily business.

Five outstanding individuals were also recognized with lifetime achievement awards for their personal commitment and dedication to ensuring that Hawaiian culture is perpetuated for generations, according to the company.

They include:

• Spiritual advisor and traditional healer Malia Craver.

• ‘Ukulele virtuoso, filmmaker, singer and composer Eddie Kamae.

• Kumu hula and retired educator John Keola Lake.

• Kupuna and lomilomi specialist Margaret Machado.

• The Mai‘oho Family, protectors and keepers of Mauna‘ala, Nu‘uanu site of the Royal Mausoleum for Hawai‘i Ali‘i.

In 2005, the Tourism Authority took over the Keep It Hawai‘i recognition awards from the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau, which started the program in 1990. It was since restructured to focus on the broader community.

For more information, visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org.