Friends of the Liliuokalani Gardens

My interest in gardens most likely dates back to childhood in southern California where my grandparents had a Japanese garden at their Bel Air home. My education went in a different route: English major with minors in comparative religions and Spanish, I graduated with honors from St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame Indiana. I taught grade school and high school before moving back to California where, as a volunteer in a political campaign, I met my husband Bill.

I worked in the public relations business in California and Hawai`i in partnership with my husband for 30 years. We specialized in political campaigns and community economic development. During that time I ran oral history and photographic grant projects for an historic society on Maui. After moving to Hawai`i Island, I wrote newspaper columns on agriculture and thew economy for 10 years.
My interest in landscaping led me to return to school in the Master Gardener program at UH-CTAHR in Hilo. For the next 11 years I designed, installed and maintained residential gardens. One of my clients in Volcano village had an old landscape designed and installed by the Japanese gardener who designed Lili`uokalani Gardens more than 100 years ago. Through a somewhat circuitous route, a maple tree on that estate led me to become a founding member of North American Japanese Garden Association.

After years of watching me go off to Japanese gardens and conferences, my husband Bill got on the bandwagon with his brand new Nikon D3x in 2012. Together we participated in the inaugural edition of the NAJGA Journal which I edited for two more issues. Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens was formed in 2012. I served on the board of NAJGA until 2023. I still serve as president of Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens.