A Native Plant Garden Grows For 30 Years In Wailea

By Allison Wright

In the south end of Wailea, nestled between two resorts, is Wailea Point, a private community filled with manicured lawns, lush tropical gardens, and canopies of mature trees and palms. When construction began in the mid-1980's the coastline of this property was rugged lava rock cliffs full of kiawe and other weeds. As part of the master plan of the Wailea resort community, an ocean side walkway connecting resorts, condominiums, beaches and public parking was to be maintained by each property.

Hundreds of visitors pass through this ocean walk daily, taking in the view, jogging, or just on a morning stroll. Having previously been the gardener for this area of Wailea Point, I can tell you the most common questions from these passers-by include "What type of lawn is that?" - Seashore paspalum. "What island is that?" - It's still Maui. If you drive around that mountain you get to Lahaina. "Where's the nearest place to get coffee?" - Well…. What many overlook is the tapestry of native plants next to them, filling the voids between the sidewalk and the ocean tides that creates the Bud Wagner Memorial Garden.

Tamara Sherrill, Executive Director of the Maui Nui Botanical Garden

At the time of construction of Wailea Point, developed by Bud Wagner, a decision was made to not build walls or fences blocking this, the steepest part of the Wailea coastline, but rather to plant hedges of native plants. This section of the walkway "is unique in that it was one of the very first commercial landscapes to utilize native plants in Hawaii," according to Tamara Sherrill, Executive Director of the Maui Nui Botanical Garden. Nearly 70 species of native Hawaiian plants were utilized in the half-mile stretch of garden, some of which were used here for the first time in a commercial garden.

As the gardens began to thrive, and the hedges began to intermingle, something amazing happened. 'Ua'u kani, the wedge-tailed shearwater, came to nest. This small community of indigenous birds has made the resort their home. From April through October, in the heat of the day, they quietly hide in the shade of the naupaka (Scaevola sericea), and 'iliahi (Santalum ellipticum), but, at night, their mates return, with a haunting, wailing call - sometimes prompting unsuspecting visitors to call the police to look for a lost baby.

Over time, the variety of plants has fluctuated, with some thriving and others coming and going like the ebb & flow of the tidal waters. In the past few years, the landscape committee of Wailea Point has worked to re-establish the diversity of this seawalk by contracting Anna Palomino, owner of Ho’olawa Farms, in Haiku, Maui, to evaluate the existing plants, re-introduce plant species and introduce new species. Alex Cortez, the maintenance supervisor for Island Plant Company, LLC, which cares for the entirety of the Wailea Point landscape, has helped Anna establish the new plantings as well as maintain the existing gardens.

Anna Palomino, research horticulturalist, and owner of Ho’olawa Farms.

The tapestry of hedges, including naupaka, pohinahina (Vitex rotundifolia), and u'ulei (Osteomeles anthyllidifolia) remain. Vignettes of mixed species including dwarf naupaka (Scaevola coriacea), 'a'ali'i (Dodonea viscosa), 'ihi (Portulaca molokiniensis), 'uki 'uki (Dianella sandwicense), ko'oloa 'ula (Abutilon menziesii) and mau'u'aki'aki (Fimbristylis cymosa) were planted in open more expanses. Trailing groundcovers such as ilima papa (Sida fallax), akulikuli (Sesuvium portulacastrum) and pau o hi'iaka (Jacquemontia sandwicensis) fill the space between the sidewalk and the hedges. Mindful of the 'ua'u kani, Anna has also introduced kawelu (Eragrostis variagilis),a native grass used for nesting material. As part of this re-establishment, new labels were placed to identify plants throughout the gardens including both Hawaiian and botanical names.