Tropical Forest Hawai‘i
February 2022 – January 2026
Tropical Forest Hawai‘i invited guests to take an exciting, immersive journey through the rich history, nature and culture of Hawaiian archipelago. From the exhibit's dramatic entrance, where a model canoe represents the first Polynesian voyages to Hawai‘i, guests were transported to a world of new discoveries. A Biocultural Conservation Hub gave an up-close look at the research that Hawai‘i's National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) is conducting on plants with the potential to end world hunger. The Conservatory's dramatic canopy overlook served as a birding station where guests could look out to view life-sized carvings of native Hawaiian birds in the treetops beyond. Visitors enjoyed a wide variety of native and endemic species, from the Wao Akue (or sacred forests, a realm of the gods) at the top of the exhibit space to the Wao Kanaka (or realm of the people) in the heart of the Conservatory's lush expanse.
Watch the Spring Flower Show: Sunshine and Rainbows Virtual Tour Video (featuring Tropical Forest Hawai‘i)
Bring the beauty of Phipps into your home with this virtual tour of Spring Flower Show: Sunshine and Rainbows. First, take the tour — complete with every room of the new show and a trip through our new Tropical Forest Hawai‘i — accompanied by relaxing music. Then, starting at the 28:26 mark, you can watch an alternate version with a welcome from President and CEO Richard Piacentini as well as commentary from Horticultural Collections Manager Ben Dunigan.
Photos © Phil Johnson II and Paul g. Wiegman
