The Economic Times

In 1970s, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet W.S. Merwin & his wife Paula bought barren land in Hawaii and turned it into 19-acre forest with 3,000+ palms

W.S. Merwin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, transformed a barren plot of land in Hawaii into a thriving palm sanctuary. Initially focused on restoring native flora, he later dedicated his efforts to conserving endangered palm species from around the world. Over several decades, he and his wife nurtured nearly 3,000 palms across 19 acres, creating a remarkable environmental legacy. Today, the Merwin Conservancy continues to protect and preserve this extraordinary conservation project.