Princeville Botanical Gardens (formerly Ahonui Botanical Gardens) began as a personal hobby of Bill and Lucinda Robertson in 2001, only to expand in scope and surpass all expectations when they moved to Kauai full time in 2004.
In August of 2010, the Robertsons decided to share their garden with the public, opening it for intimate guided tours. Princeville Botanical Gardens offers a unique opportunity to see a family grown and operated botanical garden, complete with exotic flowers, delicious fruit trees, and organic homegrown chocolate.
Hidden away in the jungle valleys of the north shore in Princeville, dramatic topography, natural landscaping, and tender cultivation have culminated into a sacred garden paradise.
Though still young, Princeville Botanical Gardens is home to some of the healthiest specimens on Kauai, with a diverse collection comparable to the other beautiful gardens of The Garden Island. Besides native and “canoe” plants, the gardens are also home to potent medicinals, rare and endangered flowers, and useful economic plants from around the world.
For many years the Robertsons have worked to reclaim the land from a jungle of invasive species. This nearly impenetrable thicket of introduced plants had strangled out the native flora along the ‘Anini Stream valley. The land was slowly transformed with the help of passionate gardeners, enthusiastic friends and painstaking physical labor.
Heavily supplementing the tired soil with organic fertilizers and homemade compost, the Robertsons make organic and sustainable maintenance practices a priority. To date, more than 400 different species have been established, and more are added every month as the Robertson family pursues its passion.
The Robertsons are also proud to make and share their own organic chocolate, as well as delicious honey from their on-site beehives. You can taste these treats and explore the rest of Princeville Botanical Gardens on a private guided tour offered 3 days a week. For a taste of the gardens before you visit, check out Lucy’s beautiful collection of photos with her own story of the garden’s development. Also, if you’re a real garden enthusiast, follow our blog for up-to-date pictures of blooms and our chocolate processing.
