Moir Gardens

The Moir Gardens (Pā‘ū a Laka) are botanical gardens in Poipu for all lovers of orchids. Hector Moir and his wife, Alexandra, received a gift of land from her father in the 1930′s. After clearing the land, the only vegetation around for miles was sugar cane, a few trees, and an abundance of lava rock. They built an elegant lava rock home. Ancient Hawaiians farmed in this rocky, arid area, channeling stream water in ditches (‘auwai). Remnant ‘auwai remain in the garden. In the 1930′s water for hobby gardening was scarce, so Mrs. Moir switched from tropical plants that required frequent watering to orchids, bromeliads, and succulents. She and their son, Eric, planted and watered the garden that you see today, featuring water lily lava rock ponds, koi, and a variety of orchid and cactus species. By 1948 the private gardens were reportedly identified as “one of the ten best cactus and succulent gardens in the world.” They opened to the public in 1954.

Today Moir Gardens is on the grounds of the Kiahuna Plantation in Poipu and open daily without charge. It is part of the Koloa Heritage Trail (Ka Ala Hele Waiwai Ho’olina o Koloa), and the inscription on the brass plaque reads: Pā‘ū a Laka (Moir Gardens). What began as a hobby garden by the Kōloa Plantation manager’s wife became celebrated as one of the world’s best of its kind. Numerous cactus planted in the 1930s thrived in the arid, rocky soil here. Many escaped to surrounding areas to become naturalized over time.

Pā‘ū a Laka means “skirt of the goddess Laka” in Hawaiian. It honors both Laka, the Hawaiian goddess of hula, and Kuka’ohi’aalaka, the rain god. Today, the area is called Kiahuna Plantation Resort, referring both to a nearby ancient temple, and to the sugar plantation era. Hector Moir was the last manager of Koloa Plantation before it changed hands in 1948.