‘Ohana Day tours are a bargain for residents By PAT JENKINS TGI Editor The monthly free tours of Allerton Garden might be one of the best deals on Kaua’i. Not only is the price unbeatable, but the walk-through that takes
‘Ohana Day tours are a bargain for residents
By PAT JENKINS
TGI
Editor
The monthly free tours of Allerton Garden might be one of the best
deals on Kaua’i.
Not only is the price unbeatable, but the walk-through
that takes about two hours to finish leaves people wanting more, said Lee
Rosendaal, one of the tour leaders.
“A lot of people come back again and
again. It’s such a beautiful place,” she said.
Open first to Kaua’i
residents (visitors are included when there’s room), the ‘Ohana Day tours are a
gift to islanders from National Tropical Botanical Garden. The non-profit,
Kaua’i-based organization trains botanists and runs the 100 acres of gardens
that were designed by Robert Allerton as part of the Lawa’i Valley home he
lived in before dying in 1964 at the age of 91.
The house is not part of
the tour. But hundreds of flowers and plants, plus fountains and statues are.
The tour requires a lot of walking, mostly on flat ground. There are some
stairs, making wheelchair accessibility difficult. Wheelchairs can be
accommodated if planned for, however.
The ‘Ohana Day tours — the next one
is Aug. 19 — are on the third Saturday of each month.
Reservations are
required, and because the spots fill up fast, organizers recommend signing up
well in advance by calling 742-2623.