Growing Something Special: Charlie’s Garden Takes Root at Imua

There is something magical about learning with your hands in the dirt.

Soon, children at Imua Inclusion Preschool will have a brand-new place to dig, plant, explore, taste, ask questions and discover the world around them with the creation of Charlie’s Garden at the Will Smith Imua Discovery Garden.

Made possible through an extraordinary $190,000 gift from Susan Naylor and the Will Smith Foundation, Charlie’s Garden will become an educational garden and outdoor classroom designed to bring learning to life for children of all abilities.

And yes, things might get a little muddy.

Charlie’s Garden will extend the classroom beyond four walls, giving children opportunities to learn about nutrition, plants, environmental stewardship and healthy food systems through experiences they can see, touch and explore for themselves. Instead of simply talking about how a seed becomes a plant, children will be able to plant one. Instead of only learning where food comes from, they can watch it grow.

For Imua, that kind of hands-on discovery is exactly what the Will Smith Imua Discovery Garden was created to inspire.

“Charlie’s Garden represents everything we believe about how children learn best,” says Dean Wong, CEO of Imua Family Services. “When children experience hands-on exploration and discovery, learning comes alive. This extraordinary gift will help us create an outdoor educational environment that benefits children and families for generations while honoring Charlie’s legacy in a meaningful and lasting way.”

The new garden carries a special story of its own.

Charlie’s Garden honors the memory of Charlie Naylor and creates a meaningful connection between Maui and San Antonio, Texas, where the Will Smith Zoological School is home to its own Charlie’s Garden. Now, that legacy will take root on Maui, growing into a living tribute centered around education, curiosity and opportunity.

While Imua Inclusion Preschool students will be among the garden’s regular explorers, the vision stretches well beyond the school day. Charlie’s Garden will become part of the larger experience at the Imua Discovery Garden, creating opportunities for families, community partners and future generations of Maui keiki to gather, learn and grow together.

The project officially got underway with a ceremonial groundbreaking held during Imua Family Services’ Board Retreat. It was a fitting beginning for a space built around the idea that investing in children today can continue growing for years to come.

Thanks to the generosity of Susan Naylor and the Will Smith Foundation, Charlie’s Garden will soon transform from an idea on paper into a place filled with plants, learning, laughter and plenty of little hands getting dirty.

Because sometimes the best classroom does not need walls at all. Sometimes, it just needs a little sunshine, a patch of earth and room to grow.