Talk Story with an Advertiser: Paradise Plants
Paradise Plants is a unique home and garden center offering everything needed to create a beautiful and joyful home environment.
In 1978, Lesley Hill decided to open a small plant nursery attached to Davie’s Building Supply in Keaukaha. Over the course of 41 years, it moved locations several times and came to offer much more than plants. In the early 90s, Lesley started traveling to Indonesia and began importing furniture and quality crafts. She later added ceramic pots from Vietnam and unique home décor from around the world. This creative, forward thinking ensured her business’s success.
Sadly, Lesley passed away in May 2017. She had been a pioneer and a fixture in Hilo’s business community—a role model for her daughter’s and many other women. She was a go-getting powerhouse who always found a way to get things done.
Her daughters, Maika Hill Higgins and Loke Hill Higgins, inherited the business, and have dedicated themselves to carrying on their mother’s legacy—and they’re doing an amazing job.
Maika says, “Paradise Plants is unique in that we offer a variety of items for both the home and garden. Not only is our plant nursery extensive with numerous varieties of plants and fruit trees, we also carry stone statuary, ceramic pots, marble sinks, stone mosaics, upholstered and solid wood furniture, tropical home décor, and unique gift items.”
Every February they bring in warm-climate bare-root fruit trees, including stone fruit, apples, persimmons, pomegranate, and even grapes! It’s a successful event that sells out within a few weeks. They also carry flower and vegetable bulbs in the spring.
The sisters are thrilled to collaborate with local artisans, including offering locally-made and sustainably-sourced wood furniture from Nalu Creative. Future plans include gardening workshops and special evening events.
Maika reflects, “We have many long-standing customers that we greatly appreciate, as well as new customers we hope will continue to shop with us. Some come in for our wonderful herb and veggie selections, for an orchid plant gift, or to look for furniture for their new Hawai‘i home. New customers are often surprised to see our extensive and varied inventory.
“Paradise Plants would not have made the transition to new ownership without the knowledge and skills of our great staff. Shannan, Mandy, Greg, and Vicky have all been instrumental in our success. Loke and I are honored to continue to improve upon our mother’s legacy.”
Paradise Plants Home and Garden Center, LLC
40 Wiwoole Street, Hilo
808.935.4043
ParadisePlantsHilo.com
