Moanalua Gardens facts for kids
Moanalua Gardens is a beautiful park in Honolulu, Hawaii. It covers about 24 acres and is open to everyone, even though it's owned by a private company. This special park is home to the Kamehameha V Cottage. This cottage was once the home of Prince Lot Kapuāiwa, who later became King Kamehameha V.
The park also hosts the yearly Prince Lot Hula Festival. This festival celebrates Hawaiian culture and dance. You can also find a very large monkeypod tree here. This tree is famous in Japan and is known as the Hitachi tree.
Exploring Moanalua Gardens
Moanalua Gardens is located in the Moanalua area of Honolulu. It's close to Tripler Army Medical Center. The park was once owned by a well-known local businessman named Samuel Mills Damon. Later, a company called Kaimana Ventures bought the gardens. The current president of Kaimana Ventures, John Philip Damon, is a great-grandson of Samuel Damon.
The Kamehameha V Cottage
The Kamehameha V Cottage is found at one end of the garden. Prince Lot Kapuāiwa built this cottage in the 1850s. He later became King Kamehameha V, an important ruler of Hawaii.
The cottage is made up of three separate buildings. These include a kitchen and dining area, a living room and bedroom, and a place for entertainment. All these parts are connected by covered walkways.
Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop later gave the cottage and the land around it to Samuel Damon. This happened when she passed away in 1884. Damon fixed up the cottage and lived there for a while. The cottage has been moved a few times. It was moved to its current spot in 1960.
The Famous Hitachi Tree
One of the most famous sights in the park is the Hitachi tree. It's a huge monkeypod tree. It has a unique, wide, umbrella-shaped top. This tree stands proudly in the middle of a grassy area in the park.
The city of Honolulu has officially recognized this tree as an "exceptional tree." This means it's very special. It cannot be cut down or harmed without special permission from the city council.
A big Japanese electronics company, Hitachi, Ltd., has used this tree as its company symbol since 1973. The company pays money each year to use the tree's image for its advertisements around the world. This agreement helps to pay for the park's upkeep.
