Maui Memories and Botanical Wonders
Dave and I have been so fortunate to vacation in Hawaii over the years, but we’ve only been to Maui once. It was in 2005, before this old blog began. Maybe it’s a cliché to call it paradise, but it’s truly deserving of the title. These photos show a tiny fraction of the botanical wonders we saw. Sadly, unprecedented firestorms have devastated parts of the island, killing people, plants, and animals, destroying homes and businesses, and disrupting life for everyone there. There are many reputable charities helping Maui, and a few are listed at the end of this post. Please donate if you can.
Most of these old photos are from Kula Botanical Garden. A few others are from the Garden of Eden Arboretum, located on the famous Road to Hana. The last row of photos has two shots of rare Silversword plants from the summit of Haleakala Volcano. As far as I know, none of these areas have been damaged by the fires. The final photo, however, shows Lahaina’s beloved banyan tree. It covers a whole city block, with many massive trunks and enormous branches. This single tree feels like its own forest. While it was burned in the fire, it’s still standing, and scientists hope that it can survive and recover.
This disaster is stark proof, in case anybody still needs it, that climate change is affecting every corner of the world, even paradise. For now, officials are asking tourists to stay away so that resources can be used for ongoing local rescue efforts. If you can, please donate to help Maui recover.
Explore posts in the same categories: Botanical Gardens, Photos
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