Ten years after selling their garden sanctuary, through a lucky twist of fate, legendary local art duo Hiroshi Tagami and Michael Powell are back home at their Kahalu'u Valley gallery and are reopening it to the public.

First purchased by Tagami and his late art partner Richard Hart 47 years ago, the property was put up for sale in 1997 when Tagami and Powell decided to take their careers and lives to the Neighbor Islands.

Following the pair's return to O'ahu, news came that their old garden gallery was back on the market.

"Hiroshi and I went out to take a look at it, and he just had tears streaming down his cheeks. I said, 'I've got to find a way to get this back,' " Michael Powell said.

Known for its lush collection of rare tropical plants, cultivated by amateur horticulturist Tagami for years, the garden gallery was a tranquil escape from the city for locals and visitors alike. The garden hosted school children, hospital patients and even the Dalai Lama during its glory days.

"I just can't explain how happy I am to be back here," Tagami said. "When I purchased the property back in the early '60s, the property was just weeds, trash. We made it into something special."

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.