  Illustrated capital If you are already in Hawaii, this question will seem purely rhetorical, since the answer is so obviously, “Anywhere.” There are few places indeed, in the islands, where flowers of some sort are not in sight. Mostly, of course, these are the Hibiscus, but you will soon notice others and the quest for new ones is apt to develop into a full-sized hobby. For the benefit of newcomers, a few of the gardens, parks and drives where you will find many Hawaiian trees and flowers are given here. By the time you have covered these places, you will know how to go on by yourself. ROYAL HAWAIIAN HOTEL GARDENFew finer, tropical gardens can be found in the Islands than the one which forms a setting for the Royal Hawaiian Hotel at Waikiki. Not only does it contain a very large assortment of trees, shrubs and special tropical plants, many of them rare, but it has been laid out to make the very most of the charm inherent in the words “tropical garden.” There are cool, green, jungle depths, gorgeous blossoms and wide shady lawns, all beautifully maintained. To see these gardens it is best to start at the hotel steps, facing the coconut grove. This particular group of palms probably contains the oldest ones in Honolulu, some of the tallest, slender trees being estimated at well over a hundred years in age. Hawaiian kings kept their surf boards in the shade of these trees. Near the steps and terrace of the hotel you will find plants with colored foliage including Crotons, red-leaved Tis and the Beefsteak plant. The fountain is surrounded with Lauae fern (Polypodium phymatodes) and near it grow the heart-shaped leaves of Caladiums and A’pes, (pronounced ah-pays). This is the Hawaiian word for various plants of the Taro family. To the left of the fountain stands a magnificent specimen of a Monkeypod tree, throwing out its giant branches over a wide expanse of lawn. Beyond it is a Bengal banyan, (Ficus bengalensis), with bunches of aerial roots dangling from the branches. When they touch the ground they develop into secondary trunks. The arbor is covered with Crimson Lake Bougainvillea. In the plantings around it you can find the shrubs illustrated on Plate VI, for the flowers pictured on it were gathered at this spot. Further along, to the right, is a Pink and White Shower tree, a Golden Shower and an Octopus tree. The latter, (Brassaia actinophylla), can be identified by its radiating, octopus-like arms, covered with dark red buds or blossoms. There is also a Hala or Pandanus in this area. Walking across the lawn and turning left, you pass the thick border of Oleander and Hibiscus shrubs which screen out the street. In this section may be found a Royal Poinciana, a Potato tree, a Kukui and some Breadfruit trees, (Artocarpus incisa). You can tell the latter by their very large, deeply lobed, oblong leaves, and the rough, round, green fruit, about the size of a muskmelon, which grows on the ends of the branches. This fruit, when baked, tastes something like a sweet potato. Here is also a Pomegranate tree and beyond are Bananas. Turning again to the left you enter the real tropical garden, a cool, green, jungle under the second coconut grove. Some of the trunks of these palms are enwrapped in the great green and gold leaves of the Pothos or Philodendron vine. Growing under the tall palms are lesser ones, along with bamboos and tree ferns. The latter have soft, fibrous, brown trunks with three or four very large, typical, fern-leaves growing out of the top. The paths hereabouts are bordered with more of the Lauae fern and with Begonias and Anthuriums, while green and red Ti plants and A’pes fill in the background. If you keep somewhat to the left, you approach the hotel building again, where you will find the Torch Gingers and Red Gingers serving as a base planting. As you pass beyond the building you can see a Tiger’s Claw tree and over to the right, near the road, a Plumeria. Planted around here are Spider Lilies and Shell Gingers. Near the side door of the hotel are Tecomarias or Cape Honeysuckle, and nearby is a glowing African Tulip tree. The wide grassy cove that fills the curve of the building beyond is bordered by a very fine collection of Hibiscus. Trees in this area include the Yellow Poinciana, more Shower trees and, across the lawn, an old specimen of the Papaya. This has a smooth trunk marked by the leaf scars. The leaves grow out stiffly, on long stems, near the top. The fruit grows directly out of the main trunk. If you cross the driveway and follow the walk, starting near the entrance, that leads to the tennis courts, you will pass a different assortment of trees and shrubs, those that like sun and not too much water. Date palms have thick, grey-green fronds and rough, stubby trunks. There are pink Plumerias, a Chinese Rice Flower tree, a Milo and Be-still trees. Near the tennis court is a Jacaranda and some Lime trees, and at the very end are both purple and white flowering Orchid trees. Near the Sports Office you can find Jatropha shrubs, the Caricature plant and the red and yellow Pride of Barbadoes. Returning to the hotel you pass one of the most common trees in the island, the Kiawe or Algaroba, (Prosopis chilensis). It is a spreading, light-foliaged tree, often twisted picturesquely. It has fine, bipinnate leaves, small spikes of tiny, yellow flowers and yellow, bean-like pods. These trees now cover large areas of the island, although the seed of the original tree was brought here in 1828 by the Catholic missionary, Father Bachelot. They are natives of tropical America. Bordering the drive at the rear of the hotel you can find the Lobster Claw, (Heliconia), and a specimen of the Kou tree. Growing on the large old Monkeypod trees that shade the motor turn-around are examples of the curious Staghorn fern. DRIVING FROM WAIKIKI TO TOWNThe ride from Waikiki to the center of Honolulu provides an opportunity to see many more trees and flowers. If you go by the Ala Moana, you pass by Moana Park bordering the shore. It holds a building, with a large inclosed court, where the Flower Shows usually take place, and where the Park Board has its office. If you go by way of Kalakaua avenue and King street, you will be interested in knowing that the line of trees growing in the parkway down the middle of Kalakaua for some blocks before reaching King, are Mahogany trees. At the corner of King and Keeaumoku is a park-like square with some fine, very old trees, including some of the Kapok, (Ceiba pentandra) which produces the kapok floss of commerce. This has huge surface roots, almost like flying buttresses. The building in this square is the office of the Territorial Board of Agriculture and Forestry. A few blocks farther down King street is Thomas Square. In peace times you can watch the fountain in the center of this park as you sit under the shade of the four giant Banyans. There are specimens of the false Wili-wili here, which scatter their red seeds on the ground in early spring. Facing Thomas Square on the makai side is the private estate of the Wards known as the The Academy has two delightful court gardens in the building, one an Oriental, Chinesque garden, the other a Persian courtyard. At the back are a series of small formal gardens. There are always unusual flower arrangements in the Academy building. Near the center of Honolulu is Iolani Palace, former home of royalty and now the capitol of the Territory. In the park around this building are many fine old trees and some interesting shrubs. A short distance from the palace, up Punchbowl street, stands the Queen’s Hospital. Years ago some unusual trees were planted in its grounds, including the Bombax. There is a good example of the curious Bottle tree or Baobab, (Adansonia digitata), near the entrance by the Emergency hospital. You can recognize it by its trunk, which quickly tapers from about five feet in diameter to hardly more than one foot, as various limbs branch off. If you go straight out King street, past Fort Shafter, you will come to Moanalua Gardens, a park-like area at the foot of the hill. This is a private estate belonging to the Damon family, but the public is invited to visit it. There is a pond with tropical water lilies and some extremely large trees. There are also greenhouses filled with Orchids and Anthuriums which visitors are sometimes invited to enter. NUUANU AVENUEA ride out Nuuanu avenue, will reveal a wealth of trees and flowers. On the left hand side, shortly before reaching School street, you come to Foster Park. This old estate is now a public park, presented by Mrs. Mary Foster, but originally it was the garden of Dr. William Hillebrand. He was an early botanist and lover of flowers, who imported many new things into the islands and planted them here. The size of some of his old trees is now tremendously impressive. Besides this, the city has collected here many unusual plants. It also maintains a greenhouse in which Farther out, Nuuanu avenue is bordered by the fine homes of some of Honolulu’s well-to-do citizens. From the road you can catch many glimpses of charming gardens. Farther up Nuuanu valley you run into a wild, natural growth. Here you can find Koa trees, yellow Gingers and green Tis. MANOA VALLEYAnother interesting ride is through Manoa Valley, where there are many more homes and gardens. This takes you past the campus of Punahou school which holds a large number of interesting trees. Along its lower wall is the famous hedge of Night Blooming Cereus. These flowers have their blossoming period in July, August, and September. If you follow Manoa Road, you will come to Waioli Tea Room, run by the Salvation Army Girls’ Home. In the garden there is a real Hawaiian grass house. Returning down Oahu Avenue you come to a small square, called Kamanele Park, which holds an unusual Rainbow Shower tree. A turn to the left here will take you into the grounds of Mid-Pacific School; at the back is the nursery of the Mid-Pacific Horticultural Establishment to which visitors are welcome. A short distance beyond Kamanele Park is the campus of the University of Hawaii. This holds many unusual plants and trees, including the famous Sausage tree (Kigelia pinnata). It grows in the lower corner, across from the fountain. DIAMOND HEAD AND KAHALAStill another interesting drive is to go toward Diamond Head from Waikiki, passing through Kapiolani Park, with its row of Ironwood trees (Casuarina equisetifolia), like mainland evergreens. The road around Diamond Head passes many more fine gardens, and farther on you come to the residential area known as Kahala.
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Identification key
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