Ene'io Botanical Gardens

World ARC crews visit some fantastic and beautiful places and meet some friendly and interesting people. For several years the World ARC fleets have visited the Ene’io Beach Botanical Gardens as they have passed through the Vava’u Islands of the Kingdom of Tonga. The gardens display an interesting collection of plant and fruit species from right across the South Pacific and in recognition of the long-established association between the founder of Ene’io Beach and World ARC, World Cruising Club will sponsor part of the garden for the next three years.

Haniteli Fa’anunu grew up in the area of Ene’io Beach before he left to study Tropical Agriculture at the University of Hawaii. During his teenage years he began working some land and planting species from other countries. On returning to Tonga, he was employed in the Tongan Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food and became its Director in 1988. During this time he travelled widely and developed the Botanical Garden as a hobby.

Haniteli and his wife Lucy now show visitors around the botanical gardens and explain some of the species which can be found there. They also give a great demonstration of how tapa cloth is made from tree bark, how kava is ground and drunk, and how the vanilla orchid can be cultivated and made into essence.

The Ene’io Beach Botanical Gardens are a wonderful place to visit and a great summary for the circumnavigator or tourist of the botanical fabric of the countries which they pass through.The three year sponsorship will help ensure that Haniteli and Lucy can continue their good work.

During the visit of the last World ARC, Haniteli unveiled a new addition to the gardens – a pathway called the ‘World ARC Way’. World ARC Event Manager Paul Tetlow thanked Haniteli for having the initiative and dedication to develop such a great garden. “We’d like to think that this is only a section of the World ARC Way, which is actually 26,000Nm long and start and ends in Saint Lucia!”