Friday April 27, 2012
TGIF – wow I haven’t said that since November (before I quit my full time corporate job to make my move to California) Where I now get to travel and do what I love 
which is sharing my experiences and things that I am passionate about.
What did today have in store for us…
Bryan and I have a list of everything we want to see and do in Maui and today we checked off visiting the Garden of Eden.
The Garden of Eden is on the road to Hana right after mile marker 10. There is a $15 per person entrance fee but it is well worth it – as you will soon see in the photos below. The view is absolutely incredible.
The aptly named Garden of Eden Arboretum & Botanical Garden is the creation of Alan Bradbury, Maui’s first I.S.A. certified arborist and landscape designer. Bradbury purchased the 25-acre site in 1991 with a vision of restoring the area’s natural ecosystem with Hawaii’s native and indigenous species. Along the way the opportunity arose to include exotic plants and trees from the South Pacific region and tropical rain forests throughout the world. There are currently over 500 botanically labeled plants, including the most extensive collection of Ti plants in Hawaii. Ti has a long history of usage by the Polynesians in ceremonies and rituals, and is still considered one of Hawaii’s most culturally useful plants.
Visitors to the Garden can roam at will through a series of meandering trails alive with brilliant colors, unique flowers, rare trees, and the sweet aroma of tropical blossoms. Panoramic vistas, including the sparkling Pacific, hidden waterfalls, and Keopuka Rock, of “Jurassic Park” fame, are a photographer’s dream.
Open to the public since September 1996, the Garden of Eden received recognition from the State of Hawaii in 1995 for its conservation practices and proper land use and development techniques.
Since opening, visitors from around the world have delighted in The Garden’s lush and beautifully landscaped twenty-five acres. Here, away from the crowds, one can still experience a special peace and the the spirit of old Hawaii.
The Garden of Eden Arboretum & Botanical Garden is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and is located on the Hana Highway, between Kailua and Keanae (mile marker 10.5) 26 miles from Kahului. It is also a sought-after venue for retreats and other private gatherings.
Must Visit
This is a must visit spot while vacationing in Maui… if you haven’t already figured that out from the pictures!
We enjoyed the rest of the day by checking out the local restaurant in Haiku – called Coleen’s. I enjoyed a Maui beef cheeseburger and Bryan and a delicious fish dish.
