Campaign News

Press Releases

GARDEN DEDICATED AT ʻIMILOA ASTRONOMY CENTER

Endemic, Indigenous and Polynesian-Introduced Plants
Honor Memory of Betsy Nip Wong and Kenneth Aloiau Wong

"The lives of Mr. and Mrs. Wong were, in many ways, synonymous with the history of Hilo over the last century. As a Chinese-American myself, it gives me great pride to see what an important the Chinese community has always been in Hilo."

(Hilo, Hawaiʻi) — Community members attended a special ceremony on September 26 at the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center on the campus of UH Hilo to dedicate a garden and honor the memory of Betsy Nip Wong and Kenneth Aloiau Wong. Graduates of UH Mānoa and life members of the UH Alumni Association, Mr. and Mrs. Wong were prominent members of the Hilo community for 68 years, Mr. Wong working as an engineer and businessman and Mrs. Wong as a public school teacher.

The garden was named in honor of the Wongs through a gift made to ʻImiloa at the time of its opening in 2006, by their children, Sybil Wong Kyi of Honolulu, Sharlyn Wong Rayment of Oregon, and Kenneth A. Wong, Jr. of California. Mrs. Wong was an avid gardener who spent many fulfilling days creating Hawaiian gardens at her homes. The Wong Garden at ʻImiloa focuses on indigenous plants used for medicinal purposes and is part of a 4.2 acre landscape which offers visitors an opportunity to explore Hawaiʻi’s rich native ecosystem.

Joining family members at the dedication ceremony were representatives from UH Hilo, and leaders of several of the local organizations in which the Wongs played active roles: the Waiakea Lions Club, the Retired Seniors Volunteers Program, the Chinese Civic Association and the Department of Education.

For information on other garden naming opportunities at the ʻImiloa Center, please contact Nico Verissimo in the UH Foundation Membership and Fund Development Office at (808) 969-9732.

Located in a prominent position across from the front entrance to the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, the Garden features plants traditionally used for herbal and medicinal purposes.

Family members Sybil Kyi (front row, far right) and Sharlyn Rayment, with assembled family friends (left to right) Eugene Tao, Gladys Chun, Herbert Watanabe, Lily Chow, Julie Tulang, Wally Chong, Cathy Lui, Duffy Bartels, Chancellor Rose Tseng, and Robert Chow.

The mission of UH Hilo’s ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaiʻi is to celebrate Hawaiian culture and Maunakea astronomy, sharing with the world an inspiring example of science and culture united to advance knowledge, understanding and opportunity. Please visit www.imiloahawaii.org.

The University of Hawaiʻi Hilo is a comprehensive university with five degree-granting colleges, six master’s programs and two doctoral programs. UH Hilo strives to integrate culture and science, offer hands-on learning opportunities to its students and use the Island of Hawaiʻi as a natural learning laboratory. Enrollment has doubled since 1980 to more than 3,600 students coming from all fifty states and more than 40 countries. Please visit www.uhh.hawaii.edu.

The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation is an independent, university-related, nonprofit organization whose purpose is to raise private funds according to priorities determined by the academic leadership of the University of Hawaiʻi and approved by the Board of Regents. Founded in 1955, the Foundation provides a full range of fund raising and alumni relations services for all ten UH campuses. Please visit www.uhf.hawaii.edu.