As we mark our 60th anniversary, we celebrate not just a milestone but a mission. For six decades, the National Tropical Botanical Garden has championed the intricate bond between plants and people, demonstrating the transformative power of restoring these flourishing relationships. Today, our network of world-class botanical gardens, preserves, and research centers stands as a testament to what we can achieve together for tropical plants and the ecosystems they sustain.
This remarkable legacy is owed to supporters like you. You are a fundamental part of our biocultural movement, where people and plants are inseparable. In 2023, your support enabled us to expand our vital work. Last year, we discovered new plant species, propagated drone-gathered plants, safeguarded ancestral crops, launched major public exhibitions, and so much more—all with the goal of nurturing these essential relationships.
These achievements we share in our 2023 Impact Report are made possible by supporters like you. Thank you for growing a brighter tomorrow with us.
Mahalo nui loa,
NTBG, Chair
President and CEO
Located in Hawaiʻi and Florida, NTBG works across five botanical gardens and throughout the tropics to grow a brighter tomorrow for plants and all they sustain.
A sustainable future where flourishing relationships are restored between plants, people, and places
To enrich life by perpetuating tropical plants, ecosystems, and cultural heritage
We’re working to restore tropical plant life—and all the life plants make possible. NTBG’s biocultural approach brings together Indigenous knowledge, cutting-edge science, and our communities to make lasting conservation impacts. We are proud to share these exciting wins for plants from 2023:
Photo by Ben Nyberg
New heights for plant conservation
NTBG continues to pioneer the use of drone technologies to protect plant life, such as the Mamba developed by Outreach Robotics. In 2023, our drone program revealed critically endangered puaʻala (Brighamia rockii) were fruiting on the precipitous sea cliffs of Molokaʻi!
Bidens wailele by Wendy Hollender
Discovering new species
Our understanding of Hawaiʻi’s incredible plant diversity continues to expand with the exciting discovery of several new species, including Cyrtandra obliquifolia, Bidens wailele, Warburgiella spinososeta, and Clermontia hanaulaensis.
Assessing Hawaiʻi’s irreplaceable trees
We helped submit a total of 113 new Global Tree Assessments to the IUCN Red List. These submissions mark the completion of assessments for all 336 native Hawaiian trees and spotlight the conservation needs of our irreplaceable plants.
A comeback for Kauaʻi’s rare trees
We completed a major campaign to safeguard endemic trees on Kauaʻi, outplanting over 500 in Limahuli Preserve. The results have been published in the scientific journal Plants, People, Planet.
19
authored or co-authored scientific publications in 2023, including two PhD theses
236,723
seeds, representing 37 taxa, were added to NTBG’s Seed Bank
1,250
individuals and a new population of Cheirolophus massonianus was discovered by our drone program on Madeira island
3,456
specimens added to our herbarium, a critical resource for plant science and research
Flourishing botanic gardens inspire a love of plants and critically support our biocultural conservation efforts. Horticultural highlights from 2023 include:
Caring for kalo
Limahuli Garden & Preserve, with the help of many partners and community members, is now home to 82 kalo (taro) cultivars. This represents a nearly complete collection of known kalo varieties, a precious resource that preserves ancestral relationships and critical crop diversity.
Preserving one of Hawaiʻi’s rarest palms
Kahanu Garden is helping ensure a future for a rare loulu palm (Pritcharida woodii) found only in remote valleys of East Maui. With support from the International Palm Society and a partnership with Lyon Arboretum, over 40 of these loulu are now growing at Kahanu Garden.
From cliffhanger to cultivation
In 2023, a cutting of a rare laukahi collected by the drone-powered Mamba set seed in our Conservation Nursery. This milestone marks the first-known instance of a drone-collected plant successfully bearing seed, offering a promising breakthrough for the future of rare plant conservation.
Breadfruit expansion
Major duplication efforts of our breadfruit collection are underway at Kahanu Garden, an ambitious project to further preserve and protect breadfruit diversity.
20,000+
plants grown in our Conservation Nursery for our gardens, preserves, and outreach programs
21
rare or endangered plants added to our living collection across gardens
70
types of native Hawaiian ferns cultivated by our Fern Lab
2.7
tons of produce harvested from our Regenerative Organic Breadfruit Agroforest, donated to foodbanks and community groups
In our continuous efforts to deepen people’s relationship with plants through education and public engagement, we have undertaken these initiatives across our gardens:
International Center for Tropical Botany at The Kampong
The ICTB at The Kampong has officially opened! This collaboration between NTBG and Florida International University builds upon a decades-long history of tropical plant collection and research at the home of botanist David Fairchild.
NTBG Stories
We launched NTBG Stories, showcasing our impact through articles on groundbreaking biocultural conservation and tropical plant stories, authored
by NTBG staff and external contributors.
Community Festivals
Our gardens hosted major community events in 2023, helping hundreds of people deepen their relationships with plants. Limahuli hosted ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest to cultivate connection with ʻōhiʻa trees and Kahanu Garden celebrated Makahiki season.
Detail from Touch Has a Memory by Antonia Wright
Biscayne at The Kampong
The Kampong and Bridge Initiative jointly presented Biscayne, a groundbreaking exhibition showcasing the vital role of contemporary art in advocating for conservation. The exhibition featured 35 local and international artists to explore Biscayne Bay’s cultural, historical, and ecological significance.
96,047
visitors to NTBG gardens
18th
year of our Environmental Journalism program, offering journalists an immersive experience in biocultural conservation
2
staff received their doctorates in plant science: Dr. Seana Walsh and Dr. Dustin Wolkis —congratulations!
2,000+
students experienced our gardens through field trips and our ʻIke Māla program
Revenue
Direct Expenses
Your support helps grow a brighter tomorrow for generations of plants and people.