Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, Protected botanical garden in Captain Cook, Hawaii
The Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden is a botanical garden on about 12 acres in Captain Cook and contains over 200 species of native, established, and Polynesian plants that existed in Kona before European contact. The grounds show the plant diversity that early Hawaiians used for food, medicine, and other purposes.
Amy Beatrice Holdsworth Greenwell donated her property to Bishop Museum in 1974, leading to its opening to the public in 1988. The opening followed extensive archaeological research that helped reveal how the land was used in earlier times.
The garden preserves traditional Hawaiian agricultural methods through stone structures and techniques that show how people in the Kona region once grew their plants. Visitors can see these old practices reflected in the landscape today and understand how closely Hawaiians were connected to their land.
The garden sits above Hawaii Belt Road and is easy to reach, though a car is recommended for getting there. Visitors should bring a hat or helmet for sun protection since shade is limited, and comfortable shoes matter because the path is uphill and uneven.
The grounds span four different ecological zones ranging from coastal areas to mountain forests, showing how varied Hawaiian nature can be. A special insect house shelters the Kamehameha butterfly, an important part of the local ecosystem.
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