Kahului in Maui County, Hawaii — Hawaiian Island Archipelago (Pacific Ocean)

A Place to Find the Real Hawaii

Maui Nui Botanical Gardens

— Rene Sylva —

Real Hawaii Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 9, 2026

1. Real Hawaii Marker

Inscription.

A Place to Find the Real Hawaii. Maui Nui Botanical Gardens. , Beginnings: , These gardens started as a dream guided by the visionary Rene Sylva. His transformation into a passionate conservationist brought him from a stint in the military and time spent in construction to fishing, where Rene was the first to destroy his nets and testify to have Hawaiian sea turtles placed on the Endangered Species list. Rene was appointed caretaker of these grounds, then called the Maui Zoological and Botanical Gardens, in 1976. The zoo closed in 1997. , , Despite no formal training, Rene created a botanical collection that was recognized for excellence statewide. After his retirement as caretaker, he expanded upon his passion for the conservation of beleaguered and little-understood native plants. For this he was honored many times, perhaps most notably by the Chevron Times Mirror magazine in 1994 for his natural resources conservation efforts. , , Rene Sylva: January 27, 1929 - December 28, 2008 , , , E Komo Mai - Welcome - to the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens. This entire Kahului area was once windblown coastal sand dune. Because of the relatively dry conditions found in such a microclimate you will find plants here that probably defy your expectations of 'Hawaiian plants'. Contrary to popular assumption, most of the bright, glossy, showy flora you see around the island is not native to Hawaii. Come in and find the real Hawaii as you meet the authentic Hawaiians: modest and inventive native plants, intrepid and hardy Polynesian-introduced plants. These two categories tell the story of isolation as well as of discovery... and of transformation. , , Begin your own discovery here: , Garden guides are available ahead for a small fee. , The number of varieties of sugar cane plants alone will astonish you. , Don't miss the food plant collections. , There are natives waiting to meet you. Some of Hawai'i's first pioneers are here in a unique collection of coastal and dry forest species. , It is prohibited to pick or collect any type of seed, fruit, leaf, flower or plant part from the plants in the Gardens without permission. Please be careful not to step into open planting beds.

Beginnings:
These gardens started as a dream guided by the visionary Rene Sylva. His transformation into a passionate conservationist brought him from a stint in the military and time spent in construction to fishing, where Rene was the first to destroy his nets and testify to have Hawaiian sea turtles placed on the Endangered Species list. Rene was appointed caretaker of these grounds, then called the Maui Zoological and Botanical Gardens, in 1976. The zoo closed in 1997.

Despite no formal training, Rene created a botanical collection that was recognized for excellence statewide. After his retirement as caretaker, he expanded upon his passion for the conservation of beleaguered and little-understood native plants. For this he was honored many times, perhaps most notably by the Chevron Times Mirror magazine in 1994 for his natural resources conservation efforts.

Rene Sylva: January 27, 1929 - December 28, 2008

E Komo Mai - Welcome - to the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens. This entire Kahului area was once windblown coastal sand dune. Because of the relatively dry conditions found

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in such a microclimate you will find plants here that probably defy your expectations of 'Hawaiian plants'. Contrary to popular assumption, most of the bright, glossy, showy flora you see around the island is not native to Hawaii. Come in and find the real Hawaii as you meet the authentic Hawaiians: modest and inventive native plants, intrepid and hardy Polynesian-introduced plants. These two categories tell the story of isolation as well as of discovery... and of transformation.

Begin your own discovery here:
Garden guides are available ahead for a small fee.
The number of varieties of sugar cane plants alone will astonish you.
Don't miss the food plant collections.
There are natives waiting to meet you. Some of Hawai'i's first pioneers are here in a unique collection of coastal and dry forest species.
It is prohibited to pick or collect any type of seed, fruit, leaf, flower or plant part from the plants in the Gardens without permission. Please be careful not to step into open planting beds.

Erected by Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, Maui Office of Economic Development, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Topics.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 9, 2026

2. Real Hawaii Marker

This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1976.

Location. 20° 53.548′ N, 156° 29.184′ W. Marker is in Kahului, Hawaii, in Maui County. It is on Kanaloa Avenue south of Mikohu Loop, on the left when traveling south. Located in Maui Nui Botanical Gardens. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 150 Kanaloa Ave, Kahului HI 96732, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Lahaina and West Maui.

Globally, it is in North America,

Polynesia,

the Pacific Ocean,

North Pacific,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: St. Anthony Church Catholic Cemetery (approx. 0.6 miles away); Maui Nisei Veteran KIAs (approx. 0.7 miles away); Haleki'i and Pihanakalani Heiaus (approx. 0.9 miles away); Corliss Steam Engine (approx. 2½ miles away); Caterpillar 772B (approx. 2½ miles away); Northwest Cable Crane (approx. 2.6 miles away); Try Pot

Maui Nui Botanical Gardens image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 9, 2026

3. Maui Nui Botanical Gardens

(approx. 2.6 miles away); Traditional Portuguese Oven (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kahului.

Also see . . . Maui Nui Botanical Gardens. (Submitted on April 17, 2026.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 17, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 27 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 17, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.