Trees That Mark Time and Memory
Following Nature's Calendar Through Hawaiian and Japanese Seasons
Written by a Local Cultural Expert
Leilani AkoTwo Natural Calendars Mark the Passage of Time
The garden tells time through two completely different natural calendars. Ancient banyan trees along the famous Banyan Drive mark specific moments in Hilo's 20th-century history. Inside the garden, traditional Japanese plants mark the changing seasons with their carefully timed blooms.
Banyan Drive began in 1933 as Hilo's unique Walk of Fame. The idea was brilliant in its simplicity. Visiting celebrities and dignitaries would plant banyan tree saplings during their stays. Over the decades, this created a living museum of 20th-century fame surrounding the garden.
Walking the drive today, you can find trees planted by aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart, who visited Hilo during her Pacific flights. Baseball legend Babe Ruth planted his tree during a barnstorming tour of the islands. Hollywood director Cecil B. DeMille, one of the first celebrities to participate in 1933, has a massive tree that now creates its own forest.
✈️ Amelia Earhart (1935)
Aviation pioneer planted her tree during Pacific flights. Her banyan stands as a monument to courage and exploration.
⚾ Babe Ruth (1933)
Baseball legend's tree planted during barnstorming tour. Now a massive specimen that children love to explore.
🎬 Cecil B. DeMille (1933)
Hollywood director's tree was among the first planted. Has grown into one of the largest, creating its own forest grove.
🇺🇸 Franklin D. Roosevelt (1934)
President's banyan has grown into one of the largest, its aerial roots creating dozens of subsidiary trunks like a natural cathedral.
The Miracle of Banyan Biology
These banyan trees are biological marvels that perfectly suit Hawaii's climate. They start as single trunks but send down aerial roots that eventually thicken into new trunks. Over time, one tree becomes a grove, creating mysterious spaces filled with natural arches and hidden corners where children love to play.
One tree carries a political story that always makes me smile. Senator Richard Nixon planted a banyan in 1952 during his early political career. Years later, during election season, a storm knocked down Nixon's tree. His wife Pat Nixon later returned to plant a replacement tree for her husband, plus one for herself as First Lady. Both trees stand strong today, regardless of political opinions about their namesakes.
Continue Your Garden Journey
Learn the secrets of visiting this magical place and experiencing its living traditions.
🌸 Bloom Calendar
- Ume (Plum): Jan-Feb
- Tsutsuji (Azaleas): Mar-Apr
- Shower Trees: May-Jun
- Ajisai (Hydrangeas): Jun-Jul
- Flame Trees: Sep
🌳 Celebrity Trees
- Amelia Earhart
- Babe Ruth
- FDR
- Cecil B. DeMille
- Nixon Family
🌿 Banyan Biology
Aerial Roots
Drop from branches
Multiple Trunks
One tree becomes grove
Natural Arches
Cathedral-like spaces
Perfect Climate
Thrives in Hawaii
🏯 Japanese Garden Seasons
Winter
Ume plum blossoms
Spring
Azalea explosions
Summer
Hydrangea spheres
Year-round
Bamboo & hibiscus
Following the Japanese Seasonal Calendar
Inside the garden gates, a different calendar unfolds based on traditional Japanese appreciation for seasonal beauty. This natural rhythm guided classical Japanese culture, where specific flowers marked important times of the year and emotional states.
Winter belongs to the Japanese plum blossoms, called ume. These brave flowers appear in January and February, often blooming while temperatures are still cool. In Japanese culture, ume represents endurance and hope because it flowers before the famous cherry blossoms, showing that beauty can emerge from harsh conditions.
Spring Explosions
Spring explodes with Japanese azaleas, called tsutsuji. These shrubs produce masses of bright flowers in pink, red, white, and purple.
Summer Spheres
Summer brings ajisai, the hydrangeas that signal Japan's rainy season. Their globe-shaped clusters change color based on soil acidity.
Late spring and early summer bring the spectacular rainbow shower trees and Queen Emma shower trees that line the garden's borders. These aren't Japanese plants, but their cascading yellow, pink, and orange flowers create breathtaking displays that rival any traditional blooms.
As summer fades, Chinese flame trees offer a final burst of bright yellow blossoms in September. These hardy trees symbolize the transition between seasons, their golden flowers catching the changing light of early autumn.
Year-round beauty comes from the garden's structural plants. Bamboo groves create living walls that rustle mysteriously in ocean breezes. The ancient monkeypod tree, estimated at over 110 years old, provides massive shade with its umbrella-shaped canopy. Native white hibiscus, called kokio keokeeo, bloom continuously, representing Hawaii's enduring natural beauty.
Understanding this bloom calendar helps visitors plan the perfect timing for their garden experience. Each season offers different rewards, just like traditional Japanese gardens were designed to provide year-round interest and inspiration.
