A trek down some stairs along a rope railing leads to the lush valley below BJ and Lyra Giorgio’s Aiea Heights home.

Their hillside yard hosts hundreds of palms of varying sizes that can be viewed from a boardwalk built at the bottom of the stairs by the couple. Pushing through the oversized fronds to see where you’re headed gives the impression you are entering some sort of magical space.

“It’s like a playground for adults,” said Lyra Giorgio, 60.

If they had their way, they’d add a zipline and a wooden suspension bridge.

BJ Giorgio, a retired doctor, planted all of the palms in their backyard and doesn’t plan to stop any time soon. He also built rock walls and walkways around the property.

“It’s nice living on a slope because you can plant the trees on all different levels,” he said.

The variety of flora on display provides a lesson in world geography: There are royal palms from Venezuela and Cuba, sunset palms from Indonesia, sealing wax palms from Thailand, sugar palms from Southeast Asia, and Bismark, triangle, Maruala and teddy bear palms from Madagascar.

Giorgio, 68, also planted palms from the Philippines, China, Costa Rica, Australia, New Guinea, Fiji, Borneo, Samoa, Malaysia and New Caledonia.

“A nursery was closing in Waimanalo and they had 32 palms, which are now planted back here,” he said.

He’s lost count of how many he’s actually put into the ground, and a few dozen or so saplings will soon be added to the collection.

“Buddha’s belly” bamboo, black bamboo and bromeliads are also part of the landscaping. Giorgio planted everything in the yard with the exception of a towering albizia tree.

When the couple moved into the home in 1983, the back area was filled with eucalyptus and mango trees. Giorgio went out almost daily with a chain saw to clear the growth and make room for his palm grove. (He tried planting coconut trees, but they didn’t survive.)

Over the years the couple expanded their home from 770 to 3,300 square feet, including a large lanai.
“Each level of the house has a different ambiance because you’re overlooking a different level of the jungle,” said BJ Giorgio.

Upon entering the property, visitors are greeted by Spanish moss, known locally as hinahina and Pele’s hair, hanging from the branches of orange trees. Other features include a tranquil koi pond and an array of Balinese statues shipped from Bali.

BJ Giorgio said he has been spending as much time as possible in their garden since retiring in July. An avid diver, he sees similarities between his yard and the underwater environment, since “it changes every day. I always notice something different.”

His wife, a health educator at Kauluwela Elementary School and former emergency room nurse, mostly tends the plants on their deck, which is filled with orchids, tillandsia, succulents and herbs.

One of her favorites is a variegated monstera.

“I love being able to grow my own vegetables here,” she said. “I use the greens to make flower arrangements.”

She picks lemongrass, bay leaves, soursop, oregano, green onion, thyme and basil from the garden for cooking.

“I’m trying to grow wasabi root. It needs lots of shade and water,” she said.

The Giorgios’ property also provides a habitat for feral pigs and other wildlife.

“We have a flock of parrots and had big white owl sightings,” Lyra Giorgio said. “In the morning, everything sings. We hear some pretty songs in the valley. It’s really magical.” 

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