After a lifetime of loving gardens, maintaining the beauty of Lili‘uokalani Park and Gardens has come naturally to K.T. Cannon-Eger for the past 12 years.
K.T. Cannon-Eger, 76, has been the head of the Friends of Lili‘uokalani Park and Gardens organization since 2016, and has volunteered countless hours to ensure the park meets the standards of a Japanese garden.
“A bunch of us began to notice, maybe around 2007, that things were not of the quality one would hope for a Japanese garden,” Cannon-Eger said. “While I was in Japan for my first International Japanese Garden Conference in 2009, I realized that you need an organization to start planning for a centennial anniversary, and we were late.”
From then on, Cannon-Eger worked to establish Friends of Lili‘uokalani Gardens, which became an official nonprofit in 2012.
“My husband was the first to lead the group until 2016, and for the past eight years, the board keeps electing me as the head. This just happened again in January,” Cannon-Eger said. “There is always a lot to be done — organizing volunteers, making sure they are well fed and safe, keeping tools and gloves handy and clean, grant writing, following up and looking for the next grant.”
Ahead of the centennial in 2017, Cannon-Eger planned an event for every month that year, with some of them sticking around annually, such as the Banyan Art Stroll in January, flying koinobori for Children’s Day at the end of April to the beginning of May, and celebrating Queen Lili‘uokalani’s birthday in September.
The park also was the host for a regional North American Japanese Garden Association event, which brings Japanese garden experts and enthusiasts to one spot for workshops and meetings.
One of the biggest takeaways for attendees during the centennial was how unique the Hilo park is as a Japanese garden.
“We are one of two Japanese gardens in the world with a tidal-fed pond. There are also people constantly walking around with dogs and casting their lines for fish and bait,” Cannon-Eger said. “People were so surprised with how inviting and casual the garden is. We don’t have walls, we’ve always been free and open to the public 24/7. It’s a completely different concept compared to other Japanese gardens.”
That has become one of Cannon-Eger’s favorite things about the park. There are always people walking their dogs, picnics between families and friends, exercise classes, community events, fishing and people teaching their children.
“I love that it is such a community treasure. Everybody has a memory of their time in this garden, especially if they grew up here,” Cannon-Eger said. “It’s such a great resource, and I love that nonprofits like the Alzheimer’s Association and the American Cancer Society make use of them for fundraising.”
Over the years, County Councilman Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder of Puna has watched Cannon-Eger dedicate her time to the park, whether its waist-deep in mud working on a project, teaching an out-of-town group about the park’s history, or overseeing masons as they fix the stone walkways.
“K.T. is a force to be reckoned with. Every time I go to the Gardens, she is there,” Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder said. “She has an absolutely mind-blowing knowledge on Japanese gardens from around the world. She’s received awards and honors before, but more importantly, she’s there.”
In 2020, Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder and Backyard Monkey started the tradition of stringing lights through the park’s big monkeypod tree for the annual Christmas in the Park Garden Enchantment event, which has become bigger and better each year.
“It’s a dream of hers to see (the tree) completely illuminated,” Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder said. “We light the tree, but she’s the one making the contacts, organizing volunteers and setting up donations. Her nonprofit is amazing and full of really beautiful people.”
Today, Cannon-Eger will be receiving a lifetime achievement award during NAJGA’s International Japanese Garden Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
Cannon-Eger cofounded NAJGA after that same Japanese garden convention in 2009 as a way to help experts and enthusiasts network outside of annual conferences.
During her time with NAJGA, Cannon-Eger served on the Board of Directors and the editorial committee for its annual journal, which she edited for three issues.
She continues to bring information about the association with her wherever she goes to spread the word and connect Japanese garden lovers with each other.
“I’m a boots on the ground, knees in the dirt, gardener, but I am realizing I’ve put a lot of years into building the organization,” Cannon-Eger said. “I’m stunned, truly, to be receiving this award, and to be considered in the same league as past winners is mind-boggling to me.
“My first thought, though, was that I’m not done yet,” added.
After receiving her lifetime achievement award, Cannon-Eger plans to continue working to make the park a pristine Japanese garden that the Hilo community and visitors from around the world can enjoy for years to come.
Those interested in learning more about Friends of Lili‘uokalani Gardens can follow its Facebook page for updates, volunteer days and upcoming events.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
