MENSCHEN

How a Hawaiian in the heart of Tyrol brings his philosophy of nature to life

Early in the morning, the park is peaceful and still. Dew glistens on the grass as the first morning light reaches the meadows beneath the old trees. Matthew Hart-Hilber walks slowly along one of the paths, pauses, inspects young shoots, and runs his hand over the bark of an old tree. Here, in the gardens of Park Igls Medical Spa Resort, high above Innsbruck, his day begins.

»Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono – the life of the land is preserved in righteousness.«

From Maui to Tyrol

Born on the island of Maui, he grew up surrounded by nature that seems almost continuous: tropical plants, warm rain, and temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees – all year round. Life happens outdoors, between ocean, waves and beaches. Leisure often means surfing, wind on the face, the ocean in constant motion below.

Matthew’s professional path initially led him into a very different world. After school, he trained as a chef. But soon he realised that it was not the kitchen that fulfilled him, but working outdoors. He changed direction into gardening and landscaping and found his vocation in sustainable gardening. For him, the decision felt natural – or, as he says: it was not him who sought nature, but nature that called him home.

Since 2000, he has no longer lived on Maui. His journey first took him to Israel. Two years later, he travelled to Crete, where he met a woman from Tyrol, a meeting that changed his life. In 2003, he finally moved to Austria and settled in Innsbruck.

For him, Tyrol was never a culture shock. Of course, the differences are significant. While Maui lies at sea level with a consistently warm climate, Innsbruck Igls is situated at almost 900 metres above sea level, surrounded by mountains. Here, four seasons shape the rhythm of nature, with winter bringing snow and frost. And yet, in essence, only one thing has truly changed: the landscape.

On Maui, life revolved around the ocean. In Tyrol, it is the mountains.

Instead of going out on a surfboard, he now stands on a snowboard in winter. Water and rock – two landscapes that could hardly be more different, yet both evoke the same feeling: being outside, sensing nature, moving within it.

For eleven years, Matthew has been responsible for nature and eco-friendly landscaping at Park Igls. His work follows a clear philosophy of sustainable gardening: the garden is maintained entirely organically. For him, gardening does not mean controlling nature, but accompanying it – an approach that is becoming increasingly relevant in the context of sustainable gardening and climate change.

This mindset can be felt throughout the park.

Guests walk barefoot across meadows and paths, feeling grass and earth beneath their feet. The garden is not a decorative backdrop, but part of the experience – a place of calm and connection with nature.

The park’s old trees are especially close to his heart. Some are over a hundred years old and shape the character of the grounds. For Matthew, they are silent witnesses of time. Their growth tells the story of nature’s strength.

His favourite place in the park?

»Good question«, he says, »there are many, but among the old pine trees with a view towards the Nordkette massif, there is a special spot.« Beneath these old giants, other species have taken root in different forms and heights. »Old growth and new garden design flow here into a harmonious whole«, Matthew explains.

Perhaps this is the essence of his work: to work in harmony with nature and to be patient. In Hawaii, this is called the Aloha spirit – a mixture of calm, respect, and deep connection to nature.

Matthew is dedicated to caring for nature. Day after day, year after year. In the spirit of the old Hawaiian motto: the life of the land endures when lived in harmony with it.