History
Haniteli Fa’anunu, an agronomist with 38 years of agricultural experience—18 of which were as Tonga's Director of Agriculture and Food—developed the garden as a personal conservation and education project. Originally private, the garden opened to the public in 2006 and has since become a popular eco-tourism destination in Vavaʻu.Features
ʻEneʻio Botanical Garden offers guided educational tours, including: * "A Walk Among the Natives", a 1.5-hour guided tour showcasing endemic and endangered species such as ake, native to Vavaʻu, along with ethnobotanical insights on traditional Tongan plant usage. * Polynesian Cultural Tour, featuring demonstrations of tapa cloth making, coconut weaving, kava root preparation, mat weaving, and vanilla essence production. The tour concludes with a local lunch and leisure time at the adjacent beach. The garden also includes ʻEneʻio Beach, a private coastal area with facilities for swimming, snorkeling, and camping. A visitor center with a restaurant, gift shop, and event space is also available on site.Conservation and education
Beyond tourism, the garden plays a conservation role and serves as an informal bird sanctuary. It contributes to biodiversity education and promotes awareness of native and traditional Tongan flora among students, researchers, and visitors.References
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