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The Plantation and Gardens
was founded by former Senator Hiram Leong Fong, first Asian American to serve in the U.S.
Senate. His political career spanned over thirty years. He retired in
1977. He has received 11 honorary degrees and awards, nationally and
internationally.
Up until his passing at age 97, you could find Senator Fong at his namesake Garden every weekend, toiling in his expansive garden, which he always contributed to his wonderful health and well-being.
History
of Kane'ohe
Kane'ohe, in Hawaiian is
"kane" man, and "ohe" bamboo. It holds the only true lagoon on
O'ahu with twenty miles of shoreline. Originally contained 30 fishponds, property of
Hawaiian chiefs, but with time and growing populations, many were filled. Today, the
view of Kahalu'u fishpond is only one of six that still exist.
Early Hawaiians raised paddies of taro. With the landing of
missionaries, many fields turned to production of rice, then sugar. By the 1900s
pineapple plantations enveloped the Kane'ohe area and later banana became the dominant
crop.
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Yesterday
The Gardens, nestled at the base of the Ko'olau Mountains, was purchased by Senator Fong in 1950. His initial purchase of a small plot of land for his children's horses soon grew to the 700 acres that are seen today. It first operated as a banana plantation, supplying the local markets.
Today
Today the Gardens function as a nature
preserve and a bird sanctuary, making it possible for people to view rare and exotic
species that would otherwise be unavailable to the general public.
Tomorrow
We are always improving the Gardens, adding new
varieties and preserving native plants from ever encroaching foreign plants. When
asked when his Gardens would be completed, the Senator replied that possibly in ten
generations it will be finished, but there will always be work to do. |
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Home
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Senator Fong's
Plantation & Gardens 47-285 Pulama Road Kaneohe, HI 96744
phone (808) 239-6775 fax (808) 239-6469 e-mail: info@FongGarden.com for a free brochure |
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