Robert Allerton

Spending time in the garden that Robert Allerton created it occurred to me how rare it is that human artifice manages to enhance natural beauty: quite an achievement, especially in what was such a stunning setting to begin with. Here's a bit of the history of the garden that I learned; I'll be writing more about the Allerton for sure.

The property was originally owned by Queen Emma (wife of Kamehameha IV) with a house up above the valley in the flat lands. The McBryde family bought the property after the queen's death for $5000. The McBrydes farmed sugar in the fields surrounding the valley, who had Emma's house  moved down into the valley to make room for the cane fields.

The beach area is not hard to imagine the property as Allerton first saw it in 1938 by happenstance when he visited first Kauai. Thanks to his hotel in Honolulu being overbooked, their friend there suggested flying to Kauai and stay there -- surely there must have been accommodations elsewhere on Oahu! -- and the same friend just happened to suggest that they see beachfront property in Lawai. The previous owner Alexander McBryde was recently deceased and the Kauai innkeeper happened to be the executor of his estate. Quite an incredulous story, a smooth sell, or a remarkable serendipity.

Allerton was born into wealth, pursued an art career until abruptly deciding it was not to be, and stewarded Robert Allerton Park in Illinois featuring formal gardens and statuary he collected. Deaf since childhood, Robert was said to be "unique, eccentric, and marvelously gifted in all the arts." He was also notably for many years the wealthiest bachelor in the United States. Robert was already in a relationship with John Gregg when they first saw Lawai-Kai as they named it, and the garden and buildings are very much a collaboration with John who he legally adopted as his son later in life when Illinois law allowed it.

Allerton died in his nineties peacefully in the garden and John lived there many years after until his death there as well. Both of their ashes were scattered in the waters off the beach of the garden they loved so much and gave to the world.

Source:

Robert Allerton : the private man and the public gifts

Author: 

Burgin, Martha.

Holtz, Maureen.

Holtz, Michael.

ISBN: 

9780979842078

Publication Information: 

Champaign, IL : The News-Gazette, c2009.