The Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden is a 40-acre natural garden of tropical plants and, as presented in several blogs and reviews, a nature lover’s paradise located in the Onomea Valley about 5 miles North of Hilo, Hawai’i. The Garden is home to over 2,000 plant species, representing more than 125 families and 750 genera of tropical exotics. The garden has numerous trails, beautiful streams, waterfalls, a bird aviary, orchid garden and ocean vistas. There are nearly 200 species of palms standing at attention as you stroll along the tropical trails.
The garden was created by Dan and Pauline Lutkenhouse, who discovered the beautiful 17-acre parcel in 1977. At its onset, the property was an impermeable jungle and Dan hand-cleared invasive trees, vines and thorn thickets as to not disturb treasured plants and tree roots. No tractors were used, and excess rock was moved by wheelbarrow. After 8 years of clearing, the garden unfolded tropical backdrops and even a three-tiered waterfall. We also learned that it opened to the public in 1984 and, nowadays, the Garden has 17 full-time employees and is financially self-supporting. To protect the Garden site, Dan and Pauline Lutkenhouse have established the gardens as a Scientific and Educational non-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation and have taken legal steps to insure the land will never be sold or commercially developed.
Some of the photos and videos that we took while visiting it are presented below:
Marco Serrato 
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