On May 20, 2007, 6 journalists from across the United States gathered at the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Kauai.

We spent one week with extreme botanists, ethno-botanists and some of the most passionate scientists and conservationists one would ever meet. Their love is no easy affair. These men and women are fighting a losing battle - one that very few are aware of, and even fewer understand. Hawaii is the extinction capital of the world, having lost almost half of the United States’ extinct species (250 out of 540). And every single day, these heroes fight invasive species (brought by wind, water and wings) and the threat of a world that doesn’t always step lightly.

During our time in the gardens, we discovered just how difficult the task of preserving one of the most rich and diverse ecosystems is. We experienced the joys of breadfruit. We learned about Prostratin, a potential HIV/AIDS drug (found in Samoa by Paul Alan Cox), and - in our few moments of leisure - we swam with sea turtles.

Browse our photos, explore our discoveries and join us on our tour of paradise. Thanks for looking!