In the heart of Wahiawā sits a lush green space where paved pathways and rocky trails wind through fruiting banana plants, majestic rainbow eucalyptus trees and cascading lobster claw flowers. The Wahiawā Botanical Garden plays host to a variety of native and non-native flora throughout its 27-acre tropical forest environment.
Some trails have been closed for two months, disrupting the usual flow throughout the garden and blocking off the entire Hawaiian Garden area from visitors.
From the trails above, sad-looking Loulu palms can be seen sagging in the distance, some with a sparse head of hair in place of their usual great mane of fronds — evidence of an invasive pest that has been plaguing the state.
Director of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens, Joshlyn Sand, confirmed the closure was spurred by a coconut rhinoceros beetle infestation of around 60 to 80 trees in the park, severely damaging some of them and killing others…