National Tropical Botanical Garden - Sites

Sites

NTBG is headquartered in Kalāheo, on the island of Kauaʻi in the state of Hawaii at 3530 Papalina Road, 21°54′24″N 159°30′40″W / 21.90667°N 159.51111°W / 21.90667; -159.51111Coordinates: 21°54′24″N 159°30′40″W / 21.90667°N 159.51111°W / 21.90667; -159.51111. The building was originally designed by architect Vladimir Ossipoff. The Juliet Rice Wichman Botanical Research Center building constructed in 2003 under Dean Sakamoto was made of concrete to survive hurricanes. Hurricane Iniki devastated the area in 1992.

Garden sites are:

• McBryde Garden - Kauaʻi island, Hawaii

• Allerton Garden - Kauaʻi island, Hawaii

• Limahuli Garden and Preserve - Kauaʻi island, Hawaii

• Kahanu Garden - Maui island, Hawaii

• The Kampong - Biscayne Bay, Coconut Grove, Florida

Thousands of species have been gathered from throughout the tropical world, through hundreds of field expeditions by staff and through collaborations with other institutions and researchers. Its living collections include the largest assemblages of native Hawaiian plant species and of breadfruit cultivars in existence. Tours of each of the gardens are available.

Preserves are also an important component of the NTBG. The preserves are seen as a refuge for nature, providing habitat for native and tropical plant species to mature and reproduce in a natural setting without the influence of human activity. They have also provided scientists the necessary means for the reintroduction of critically endangered species that are no longer found in the wild. These preserves act as large laboratories for experiments in conservation biology. The NTBG currently possesses and manages three preserves: the Ka'upulehu Preserve, which was acquired in the early 1970s on the island of Hawai'i; the Awini Preserve, which was acquired in 1975 on the island of Hawai'i; and the Limahuli Preserve, which was acquired in 1994 on the island of Kaua'i. At present, preserves are not open to the public.