Garden - Horizon Guest House

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park 2026 eruptions – when to go and where to see it

Posted on August 30, 2026September 5, 2026 by Angus

The current series of eruptions occurring in Halema’uma’u at the summit of Kilauea has been ongoing since December 2024. We were able to view the 51st episode on July 15, 2026. At the moment eruptions are occurring in the same location approximately every two to three weeks. We give you a guided tour of where to go to view the next in the series of these spectacular eruptions.

View of the volcano from the highway heading toward the volcano from Kona. We recommend signing up for email alerts at https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns2/ and text alerts from https://hawaii-county-civil-defense-agency-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com/pages/alerts When you get an alert that an eruption has started it’s best to get to the park as quickly (and as safely!) as possible. Traffic will get busy at the park as the eruption continues.

When you arrive at the park, head through the entrance and take the first left at the roundabout and follow the road past Kilauea Iki lookout, then past Thurston’s lava tube, after which you’ll arrive at a T-intersection (see above). There is parking to the right or, if full, to the left on the side of the highway.

After parking make your way back to the T-intersection and begin walking down the road closed to traffic.

The walk itself is about a mile, so make sure you have sensible shoes and a sun hat, and perhaps even a beach chair if you think you’ll want to sit and watch the eruption for a longer period of time.

Follow the signs and cones down the path and off the highway toward the volcano. You can’t miss it!

Episode 51 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began around 8:30 a.m. on July 15 and ended abruptly at 4:46 p.m. on July 15, 2026. This is about the average length for every eruption in each episode – so your window to view is often just a matter of hours.

In this episode the maximum lava fountain height was about 950 feet (290 meters) above ground from the north vent. The south vent did not fountain during this episode, though it did emit flames and gas jets.

The maximum plume height was about 18,000 (5,500 meters) above sea level.

In this episode the tephra fall was restricted mostly to the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to the southwest of the active Halema’uma’u vents. A light fall of Pele’s hair was reported at several locations in the national park outside the closed area.

Viewing the volcano when it’s currently erupting in this series of episodes is well worth the trip, just make sure you’re up-to-date on the alerts and ready to get to Volcanoes park as soon as the next episode begins!

Tahitian Limes on the Big Island

Posted on July 1, 2026July 12, 2026 by Angus

The Tahitian lime is a large lime, also known as a Persian lime, and is often seedless. We have a large tree as part of our vegetable garden and it produces fruit for the majority of the year (usually about 10 months of the year).

When just ripe the skin turns a slight yellow shade. The Tahitian lime was introduced to California from Tahiti in the 1800s and from there to Hawaii soon after, although some believe they first arrived in Hawaii from Micronesia.

Tahitian limes are not currently exported from Hawaii to the mainland, though they have been exported to Canada. Limes from Mexico make up 90% of the mainland market for limes, but there is hope for an export market from Hawaii to open up in the future should mainland restrictions be eased.

There are specific quarantine rules on all exported fruit and vegetables from Hawaii, and any exemptions undergo a rigorous process of review with the USDA.

Fresh Tahitian limes are served every morning at Horizon on the fruit platter. Add some freshly squeezed lime juice to your fruit bowl and enjoy!

7 colorful plants at Horizon Guest House

Posted on August 30, 2024September 29, 2024 by Angus

Find out about 7 of our favorite plants that are grown here on the property at Horizon Guest House. These flowering plants are not all native to Hawaii but they all help contribute to a colorful garden!

1. Canna Lily

This variation is known as Canna X Generalis, Canna Lily (above photo). This lily loves warm weather and full sun. The plants can grow up to 6 feet in height. They are found in tropical and subtropical parts of North and South America, India and in the Pacific. The genus name, Canna, is derived from the Greek word Kanna, meaning reed-like.

2. Blue ginger

Native to Brazil, blue ginger grows easily in the wild. They enjoy moist, shaded areas. The color it produces occurs rarely in nature – less than 10% of all flowering plants have blue blooms. It is not a member of the ginger family and is not edible. Blue ginger is in fact part of the Commelinaceae family, along with spiderworts. Blue ginger can grow to between 3-5 feet tall.

3. Anthurium Painter’s Palette

Native to Colombia and Ecuador, this anthurium, is also known as Painter’s Palette. It’s a monocotyledonous perennial and flourishes in warm, tropical environments, hence why it enjoys the Hawaiian climate. It also make for fairly low-maintenance indoor plant. A study carried out by NASA, called the Clean Air Study, found that they are also capable of eliminating environmental toxins like formaldehyde and ammonia from the air!

4. Heliconia Parrots Beak

This dramatic plant, Heliconia rostrata, grows large pendulous flowers which can reach half a meter in length. The stalks of the plant can grow up to 7 feet in height. It is native to Colombia and Bolivia. They enjoy moisture and sheltered areas to help protect the vulnerable flowers which can be heavy!

4. Pagoda Flower

The Pagoda flower is native to Asia and parts of the Pacific. A tropical shrub, it produces a large display consisting of tall clusters of orangey-red flowers that form a pyramid shape. The stems of the plant can grow to be 8 feet tall. It enjoys full sun and well-drained soil.

6. Aechmea Tillandsioids

A type of bromeliad, this red and orange flowering plant produces striking leaves. The plant is native to South America and thrives in tropical locations. The leaves themselves are long and narrow, and the edges can be sharp. Often found in trees this plant also enjoys ground environments.

7. Blue water lily

Also known as blue Egyptian lotus, this aquatic plant loves tropical climates and is naturalized on Hawaii Island and also Brazil and Argentina. It produces a beautiful blue flower, and has a history dating back to Egypt where it was grown along the banks of the Nile. The plant flowers during the day and closes up at night.

The Hawaiian climate makes for a relatively easy growing environment for most plants, and our elevation here at Horizon means we have a good mix of plenty of sun and just enough rain.

The Amazing Keitt Mango

Posted on May 16, 2024December 30, 2024 by Angus

Last Updated on December 30, 2024 by Angus.

The amazing Keitt mango is a large variety – a massive serving of delicious, mango sweetness. There are 5 different mango varieties currently grown at Horizon Guest House, and one of the best is the Keitt.

Mango harvest

There are 40 different varieties are grown on the islands, and of these there are about 10 which produce the bulk of the mangos supplied. The Keitt is a late harvest variety. It usually ripens from August through October, and even into November. Other mangos here on the property, and state-wide in general, are usually finished by July or August.

The Keitt mango

The Keitt mango is large, easily weighing between 2 to 4 pounds each! This variety doesn’t change color to indicate that it’s ripe. In the past we would wait for the expected color change before picking – the Keitt’s green skin will stay green, even if it’s ripe – and then the fruit would fall to the ground, turning to mush from the bruising.

Make sure the mango is ripe by pressing gently on the skin – it should give slightly. The mango may need to sit for a few days after picking to ensure it has ripened enough. Don’t store mangos in the fridge as they don’t like the cold. The best way to prepare a mango is to slice your way around the seed, cutting the flesh in a cross-hatch pattern.

History of the Keitt

The Keitt mango originated from a seedling of the Mulgoba cultivar and was named for Mrs J.N. Keitt who planted the first seed in Florida in 1939. By the mid-1940s it was being grown commercially. This Keitt is also found throughout Central and South America as well as Hawaii.

The trees grow to a medium size, allowing them to bear the heavy fruit they produce. The flesh itself is sweet, low in fiber, a thin seed, and the skin is mostly green with a purple or red tinge. This variety is anthracnose resistant, this means it is resistant to a fungal disease causing dark lesions. The fruit also has a long shelf life.

The versatile mango

The mango can be used to flavor pies, jam, chutney, ice cream, sorbets, relishes, preserves, juices as well as being used in a wide array of baked goods. But nothing beats the fresh fruit, especially when it’s chilled. A fresh mango topped cheese cake, or served alone with spoonful of vanilla ice cream… delicious! Here in Hawaii, mango bread is very popular as a fruit substitute for banana. When mangos are in season we often make mango flavored bread (with cranberries, pictured above) and mango muffins – a great addition to the breakfast menu.

Mango wood

Mango wood has even become a popular wood both for furniture and also art objects. Mango trees reach maturity for harvesting at between seven to fifteen years. The wood itself does not require intensive processing. Another reason for its popularity is that it has a very similar look to teak.

Mango wood is sustainable. The wood is already a by-product of the industrial mango fruit industry and the trees are quick to mature compared to other trees. Once the trees have finished fruiting they are harvested for their wood and then replaced with the next crop of mangos.

Besides being an attractive tree, it produces a beautiful wood. Local craftsman use mango (when they can get it) to produce wooden art work as well as beautiful bowls and boxes (as pictured). Mango doesn’t have the same cache of koa, but because there is so little available, it ranks up there as far as desirability among the wood workers.

Author: Angus Meek

The Mighty Hawaiian Avocado

Posted on December 17, 2023December 30, 2024 by Angus

Everyone loves avocados. Hawaiian avocados have a delicious, rich, creamy flavor and are packed with healthy oils. The Hawaiian climate makes growing avocados easy and they’ve become one of Hawaii’s favorite exports.

200 avocado varieties

There are over 200 different avocado varieties grown throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Cross-pollination is responsible for the proliferation of the avocado varieties. But it’s the Hawaiian climate that’s the reason for why many believe Hawaiian avocados are some of the best in the world. The microclimates and the fertile soil often produce very large avocados with significantly higher amounts of healthy oils. The avocado season usually runs from September to May of the following year.

The main variety of avocado grown in Hawaii is the Sharwil variety (above). Originally from Australia, the Sharwil has a velvety smooth, creamy texture. This variety is often exported to the mainland. They have a classic pear shape and we grow this variety here at the guest house. It grows very well along the Kona Coast.

Did you know that you can freeze avocados?

All it takes is a little preparation and you’ll be eating avocados all year round. First, cut the avocado in half and remove the seed. Smear some lemon juice on the open flesh of each cut half. Wrap each half with plastic cling wrap, careful to make sure it’s entirely sealed. Place the cut halves of the avocado in a freezer bag and seal tight. Freeze and enjoy avocado anytime!

Butter avocados

Perhaps our favorite avocado is the Kahalu’u variety (below), also known as the butter avocado. This variety has a buttery, creamy texture and can grow to twice the size of the average Sharwil variety. The season for the Kahalu’u is from late October to December. We have a Kahalu’u avocado tree here at Horizon. This season we have seen some huge avocados from our tree, many over 1.5 pounds each!

Other popular varieties grown in the islands include the Malama, Yamagata, Greengold, Beshore and of course the popular Hass. The Hass is a smaller avocado with a pleasant flavor but overall contains less oil content than the other Hawaiian varieties. Many of the Hawaiian varieties were named after the families of farmers who discovered the seedlings.

Most avocado trees are not grown from seed but are grafted, a process in which part of an existing mature tree is cut and placed in a rootstock. This process means that there remains consistency in the quality of the fruit with the new trees. The first time yield for an avocado tree is 8 to 12 years, but there is nothing like the creamy, rich texture of the mighty Hawaiian avocados – they are well worth the wait.

Author: Angus Meek

Rambutan on the Big Island

Posted on October 30, 2023December 30, 2024 by Angus

The Rambutan has an unusual, almost alien-like appearance, with its bright red skin and numerous red pliable spines. But this fruit hides a delicious flesh inside and is definitely one to try during your Big Island stay.

Where did the rambutan come from?

The rambutan is not endemic to Hawaii. The fruit is native to Southeast Asia and is a relative of the lychee, longan and mamoncillo. The name rambutan comes from the Malay-Indonesian word for hair ‘rambut’, due to the fruit being covered in hair-like spines.

The rambutan

The rambutan tree is an evergreen tree that can grow to almost 80 ft. The fruit range in size from 1-2.5 inches in length. The flesh of the fruit is translucent and contains a single seed. The rambutan is eaten raw by simply cutting open and then extracting the flesh inside (you can also pull apart the skin from the middle if you don’t have a knife). The entire fruit can also be cooked and even the seed is edible.

The flesh itself is sweet and fragrant with a floral flavor. The flesh is jelly-like in consistency and is super healthy, containing vitamin C, iron and potassium. It’s often used in desserts, like sorbets and puddings as well as in curries and other savory dishes. Their shelf-life is short and they are often made into jams and jellies.

You will often find rambutan at farmers markets rather than at your local grocery store as the fruit themselves don’t travel well. Like lychee, they are even better when chilled before eating.

Author: Angus Meek

Hawaii’s Amazing Kukui Nut

Posted on June 30, 2023December 30, 2024 by Angus

The little-known state tree of Hawaii is the kukui nut tree. The tree is common throughout the Hawaiian Island chain and features prominently in Hawaiian culture and mythology. Used for medicinal purposes, Hawaii’s amazing kukui nut is also polished and turned into spectacular black leis.

Where did the kukui nut tree come from?

The kukui tree originally arrived in Hawaii along with the first Polynesians. They traveled to Hawaii with the seeds of the tree in their canoes. The kukui nut tree is also known as the candlenut tree because the early settlers used the kukui nut for candles. Canoes were constructed from the wood of the kukui tree. The root of the tree was used in the process of making black paint. The paint was then used to decorate tapa cloth. By 1959 it was designated the official tree of Hawaii.

The Kukui nut

The kukui nut is used for a number of different purposes. The oil extracted from the nut was used to coat fishing nets and to water-proof canoes. The oil was also used for sore muscles, a balm for burns, and a medicine for other skin ailments. The oil was also used as an ingredients in soaps and lotions. The outer shell of the nut was used in the creation of natural dyes for tattoos.

In order to use the nut as a candle the nuts were gathered and placed along the middle part of a coconut palm frond. They were then lit and then burnt one at a time. In this way, ancient Hawaiians were able to use the burning nuts to tell the time since each nut took about 15 minutes to burn.

The nuts can also be turned into a spice. They are first roasted and the inside of the nut is turned into a spice called inamona. It also had another medicinal use – excess consumption of the inside of the nut has a laxative effect!

(The photos below show the kukui nut in stages, from when it’s first picked fresh, then as it ages, as the shell breaks away, and finally the nut itself).

Kukui nut leis

In order to create the famous kukui nut leis, the nuts are collected then sanded, buffed and eventually polished until they produce a dark brown or black color. The leis themselves are often used by hula dancers, or exchanged by couples at marriage ceremonies. Kukui nuts have also been used as prayer tokens. They were thought to capture a person’s spiritual energy. The kukui nut leis were often worn by Kahunas (priests) and the aili’i (royalty).

Hawaii’s amazing kukui nut has a wide variety of uses but there’s nothing like a beautifully polished kukui nut lei!

Author: Angus Meek

The Kukui Nut Tree: The State Tree of Hawaii

Posted on January 30, 2022December 30, 2024 by Angus

Can you identify the state tree of Hawaii? Hint: it’s not a palm tree. It’s the Kukui Nut Tree. This tree is widespread throughout the Hawaiian Islands and plays an important part in Hawaiian culture and mythology. The Kukui nut has a wide variety of uses including medicinal.

Where did it come from?

When the Polynesians first arrived in the Hawaiian Islands they brought with them the seeds of the Kukui tree, stowed away in their canoes. In 1959 it became the official state tree of Hawaii.

The many uses of the Kukui nut tree

The Kukui nut

The Kukui nut itself is perhaps the most prized part of the tree. Ancient Hawaiians used the oil derived from the nuts to coat fishing nets, while the outer shells were used in the process of creating natural dyes for tattoos. The oil could also be used as a dressing for treating sore muscles, burns, or other skin complaints. The oil is often an ingredient in soaps, candles, lotions, and even as an oil for surfboards!

Known elsewhere as the Candlenut tree, ancient Hawaiians would burn Kukui nuts in order to use them like candles. Nuts were strung along the middle section of a coconut palm frond, then lit and burnt one at a time. Because each nut burns for approximately 15 minutes, ancient Hawaiians were able to use them to measure time.

The nuts can also be roasted and the inside of the nut turned into a spice called inamona. This spice is still used in traditional poke recipes. Depending on how the inside of the nut is consumed it can also be used as a laxative(!).

Kukui nuts are also used to create leis by stringing together a collection of nuts. The nuts are sanded, then buffed and polished until either dark brown, black or even white. The leis are often worn by hula dancers, or exchanged by couples during marriage ceremonies.

The rest of the Kukui Nut Tree

The wood from the Kukui tree was used to make canoes. The wood of the Kukui needs to be waterproofed before it’s ocean-ready and Kukui nut oil is perfect for this purpose. The roots are even used as part of the process to make black paint which was traditionally used to decorate canoes or tapa cloth.

The Kukui nut tree can grow up to 80 feet in height, often in an oval shape. The leaves themselves have a distinct pattern, often having three or five lobes (projections of the blade of the leaf with the gaps between them).

Can I eat a Kukui nut?

Since the nut has laxative properties, it’s not recommended that you eat a Kukui nut. It functions more as an ingredient in spice, rather than something to be consumed on its own.

Hawaiian mythology

In Hawaiian mythology Kamapua’a was a wild demi-god, half pig and half man, able to change from one to the other. The kukui tree is known as a kinolau – the physical embodiment of Kamapua’a. You’ll find that if you fold a kukui leaf in half along the stem, the leaf appears in the shape of a boar head.

The Kukui trees are among the first trees you’ll see on arrival at Horizon Guest House. Look out for them as you drive up the first section of the driveway from the gate – they line either side of the driveway.

The Kukui nut tree was not only an important source of wood for canoes but the nut, and its many uses, became an integral part of ancient Hawaiian life.

Author: Angus Meek

Kona’s secret garden: the Makaʻeo Walking Path

Posted on June 14, 2021December 31, 2024 by Angus

Looking for a short hike in Kona? Why not try the Makaʻeo Walking Path. Located within the Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area beside the beach, this trail is an easy hike through some colorful Hawaiian flora.

The loop path itself is less than a mile long and part of the trail has been paved. The garden itself is maintained by the local community and features a wide variety of plants – from natives to unique succulents.

Fun fact: Makaʻeo means “point of the piercing eye” and was named after the nearby point.

The Old Airport

The Old Kona Airport was originally built in 1947. By the 1960s it was apparent that a new airport was needed as Boeing 707s and DC-8s were not able to take off on such a short runway. The new Kona International Airport was built at Keahole Point in 1970 and by 1976 the old airport was converted into a state park.

Fun fact: Walk the loop 3 times and you’ll have walked 2 miles!

Old Kona Bay

Directly opposite the garden, across the old airport runway landing strip, is a long sandy beach. There are plenty of picnic tables on the main part of the beach, or you can try the more private beach cove at the far end of the runway.

Local community support

After its conversion, the State in conjunction with the local community worked together to turn the area into multi-use path and garden space. The Kona Farm Bureau began a planting program at the north end of the proposed path, while the Kona Outdoor Circle oversaw the planting of larger trees and a grassed area.

Eventually other local community organizations became involved with the garden, including the Friends for Fitness. Facilities such as an outdoor workout space (including a chin-up bar, balance bars and stretching post) and drinking fountain were added. Members of the Friends have taken responsibility for different sections of the garden. Look out for volunteers working in the garden on Thursday mornings.

It isn’t just the Friends for Fitness who are involved with the garden. Under the Adopt-A-Park Program, members of the community, whether individuals or businesses, can take responsibility for a part of the garden. This community approach to the garden makes room for a wide variety of spaces including a Japanese garden, a Thai pavilion house and a number of sculptures.

Where? Makaʻeo Walking Path – 755560 Kuakini Hwy, Kailua-Kona

Take a tour amongst the fragrant plumeria in this unique seaside community botanical garden.

Author: Angus Meek

Wild pigs on the Big Island of Hawaii – friend or foe?

Posted on August 28, 2020December 31, 2025 by Angus

In the first months of 2020 wild pigs caused significant damage to orchards and crops at Horizon Guest House. The pigs, who live in the surrounding forest of McCandless Ranch, were in the habit of making regular raids on our property. Our gardening efforts, and attempts at protection, were left in disarray as they carved a trail of destruction.

Unfortunately, feral pigs on the Big Island of Hawaii have become a widespread problem. Wild pigs are attracted to a wide variety of food sources. On the Big Island these include crops such as macadamia nuts, bananas, avocados and pineapples. Our banana and pineapple plants were almost all destroyed over a period of months. Significant rooting damage was also done to the garden.

Where did the pigs come from?

It was originally thought that the feral pigs in Hawaii were the direct descendants of those brought to the islands by Captain Cook in 1778. Captain Cook arrived with pigs, chickens and other animals. However, a 2016 study found that most of the feral pigs alive in the islands today are in fact the descendants of those introduced by Polynesians in approximately 1200 AD. ^[1]

That the origins of the feral pigs are not solely European will be helpful for future discussions about conservation on the islands, as well as their role in Hawaiian cultural heritage.

Impact on forest ecosystems

Wild pigs also have an impact on the forest ecosystem. A study by the University of Hawai’i found that soil macroinvertebrate communities (organisms that do not have a spine but can be seen with the naked eye, such as snails and insects) remained unaffected by the presence of feral pigs in the environment.^[2] However, earthworms and beetles may benefit from association with sites rooted by wild pigs.

Another study found that the absence of feral pigs over time led to increased bacterial diversity in the soil and that there was an overall increase in the ‘ecological resiliency’ of the soil.^[3]

How to combat feral pigs

Pigs don’t like dogs and will tend to avoid an area if they sense or smell their presence. Culling the invading pigs is also another option, but in the case of Horizon this won’t stop the arrival of more pigs as they breed at such a rapid rate in the adjoining forest. The feral pigs are resourceful and have found creative ways of digging under the boundary fence in order to gain access.

Instead we decided on a new approach. We fenced a section of the garden off completely. This area, currently housing the existing vegetable garden, will now also be where we grow the crops most vulnerable to pig invasion. New banana and pineapple plants have been planted and the existing vegetable garden has been expanded. The fence itself has been engineered to be as pig-proof as possible. Additional fence posts have been positioned close together to ensure that the fence is as tight as possible and therefore difficult for even the tiniest of pigs to burrow under.

Feral pigs might appear to be cute and relatively harmless but they continue to cause problems on the Big Island as their numbers in populated rural areas continue to rise. Creative solutions are the best way to try to mitigate their impact on a local level, while perhaps a concerted effort on a state level is needed to combat the issue further.

References

Linderholm A., Spencer D., Battista V., Frantz L., Barnett R., Fleischer R.C., James H.F., Duffy D., Sparks J.P., Clements D.R., Andersson L., Dobney K., Leonard J.A. & Larson G. (2016). [1] A novel MC1R allele for black coat colour reveals the Polynesian ancestry and hybridization patterns of Hawaiian feral pigs. R. Soc. open sci. 3, 160304. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160304

Wehr, N.H., Kinney, K.M., Nguyen, N.H., Giardina, C.P. & Litton, C.M. (2019). [3] Changes in soil bacterial community diversity following the removal of invasive feral pigs from a Hawaiian tropical montane wet forest. Sci Rep 9, 14681. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-48922-7

Wehr, N.H., Litton, C.M., Lincoln, N.K. & Hess, Steven C. (2020). [2] Relationships between soil macroinvertebrates and nonnative feral pigs (Sus scrofa) in Hawaiian tropical montane wet forests . Biol Invasions 22, 577–586. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-019-02117-3