Kaneohe garden flourishes with souvenirs of couple’s life, travels

Julie Aragaki treasures the potted Cook Island pine trees found throughout her garden. The trees were grown from seed pods she collected from the ground during one of her visits to Lanai with husband Keith.

“Lanai is our favorite island. We really enjoy the Lodge at Koele, which is surrounded by all these grand pines,” she said. “We have 11 trees, but I don’t want to give any away because they are so sentimental to me.”

Many plants on the couple’s half-acre property in Kaneohe have special meaning to her. For example, the bare, twisting limbs of an old silver buttonwood tree, referred to by the Aragakis as the “wind chime tree,” is draped with Spanish moss — also known as hinahina or Pele’s hair — and other air plants, and holds vacation souvenirs.

“We look for unique wind chimes during our travels. One chime from San Francisco has hanging forks and spoons,” she said.

Keith Aragaki, 61, who works as an administrative services officer with the state Department of Agriculture, has a background in horticulture, so their outdoor space was well thought out, she said. They’ve lived in their Kaneohe home in the shadow of the Koolau Mountains for 23 years.

“My husband has a really good green thumb. That’s why everything grows so well,” she said.

Aragaki, 50, is editor and co-owner of Hawaii Bride & Groom Wedding Style magazine, founder of Wedding Week Hawaii and co-owner of Best Hawaii Wedding. A photographer by trade, she has an eye for composition when it comes to the garden.

The yard around the pool deck was inspired by the landscaping at some of their favorite hotels. A rock garden separates the deck from the lawn, which is bordered by lauae fern, palms, ti and other plants. Other parts of the yard are accented with several varieties of plumeria and ohia, a jaboticaba tree and an avocado tree. When Aragaki’s grandmother was relocated to a nursing home, her ficus tree was transplanted there as well.

Beyond the pool deck, the property drops off to a lower, graveled level where vegetables, fruits and other plants grow. This area requires the most attention. Aragaki said she waters the tomatoes twice a day and all other potted plants daily. Since it rains frequently, the rest of the yard doesn’t need as much maintenance, she said.

“We’re trying to be more sustainable. The tomatoes and fruits make us a little less dependent,” she said. The Aragakis also have a worm composting bin, and setting up a hydroponics system is next on their to-do list.

Water chestnuts, unusual in home gardens because they require periodic flooding, also grow in the lower level, alongside a red mountain pineapple from New Zealand. “We wanted to try and grow something different. My husband uses chestnuts in cooking,” she said.

They replant the tops of pineapples that they consume. Other edibles include papayas and strawberries.

The Aragakis’ garden is also home to Squirt, a 20-pound sulcata tortoise who roams freely in his designated area.

“When the strawberry plants don’t give us fruit, we feed the leaves to the tortoise. He really likes them,” she said.

“Garden Party” spotlights Hawaii’s unique and exceptional gardens. Call 529-4808 or email features@staradvertiser.com.