David Tan is the new executive director of the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden in Onomea, announced President Pauline Lutkenhouse and the garden’s board of directors. David Tan is the new executive director of the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden in Onomea,
David Tan is the new executive director of the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden in Onomea, announced President Pauline Lutkenhouse and the garden’s board of directors.
Tan, who has a degree in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Mass., joined the garden in 2004, after working in web development with Wired News in San Francisco. He has been responsbile for the garden’s advertising, Internet presence and public relations duties as well as managing the garden’s business with cruise lines.
Tan has also developed the garden’s plant database and made it available online for the education of the general public. He has been instrumental in helping expand the reach of the garden and is grateful for the opportunity to do more as director.
“This is truly a dream come true,” said Tan. “From my very first day here, I fell in love with this special place called Onomea.
“Today I feel so blessed to lead an organization whose mission is the preservation of Onomea Valley and the education of our guests and school groups as to the beauty and importance of tropical plants.
“Dan and Pauline Lutkenhouse found the valley as an overgrown jungle and dumping ground and created a self-sustaining nature preserve and garden enjoyed by 100,000 visitors each year,” said Tan. “I hope that I, too, in my own way, can contribute to making this gem shine even brighter.” Visit www.hawaiigarden.com.
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