Hoʻomaluhia, the Most Beautiful Botanical Garden in Oahu, HI

The island of Oahu in Hawaii has many beautiful places and hidden treasures, one of which is the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden. Hoʻomaluhia means “a peaceful refuge.” It is very aptly named. Because as you drive along the majestic palm-lined road against the imposing Ko’olau mountain range or stroll through the massive 400 acres full of lush tropical plants and trees, you can’t help but think that this is what Eden must have looked like. The Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden is a perfect place to spend a whole day unwinding and being one with nature.

Stats

Where

Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden
45-680 Luluku Rd. Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi 96744

Parking

There are multiple parking lots inside the garden.

Restroom

There are restrooms throughout the garden.

Fee

It is FREE to enter

Hours

9:00 am – 4:00 pm | Closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day

Time

3-4 hours

Pet-friendly

NO PET ALLOWED

Ideal Time

Weekends and holidays can be very busy. If you want less crowd, go early and on a week day!

Weather

Video

About the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden

Opening in 1982, the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden in Oahu was designed and built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide flood protection for Kāneʻohe. It features plants from major tropical regions around the world, some of which are: the Philippines, Malaysia, Tropical America, India & Sri Lanka, Melanesia, Hawaii, Polynesia, and Africa.

There is a 15 mph speed limit inside the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden. Please make sure to obey this speed limit.
You cannot stop anywhere along the main road unless it’s at a designated parking area. This means you cannot do the iconic Instagram shot of your car on the entrance road anymore.
This place can get very busy during a holiday or on the weekends. If you can, make sure to visit the garden during the weekdays. Also, there is a lot to see here, especially if it is your first time. Therefore, go in the morning and give yourself at least 3 hours so you won’t be rushed.
Pets are NOT allowed here.
This place is not stroller friendly unless you stay on the main road.
Don’t forget to stop by the Visitor Center to take a photo of the map. There’s also a QR code that takes you to the website map if you prefer that. You can also download it ahead of time here.
It can get buggy here so bring insect repellent with you.

Navigating the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden

Navigating the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden can be a bit confusing for first-time visitors. There are many trails and off-shoots that can be complicated. However, it’s really not that bad once you get the hang of it. So, there is one main paved road to go in and out of the garden. The road dead-ends after about 1.7 miles from the Visitor Center. You’ll have to turn back around if you want to leave this place. Along the drive, there are a few parking areas with beautiful viewpoints, picnic areas, camping grounds, and short trails.

The main walking trail system is located close to the 32-acre reservoir. You can find the trailhead right next to the visitor center. This trail goes along the side of the reservoir in a semi-circle and connects with other trails that lead to different parking lots along the paved road, with the last one being the parking lot for the Kahua Lehua Campsite.

Things to Do At Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden

The Scenic Drive

The whole road from the entrance of Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden all the way to the end is breathtaking. Nothing like driving through a lush green forest with the majestic Ko’olau mountain range imposing in the background. This mountain range is very unique with its distinctly beveled grooves. It felt unreal to be here. The Ko’olau mountain range is actually home to one of our favorite hikes, the Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge trail. In fact, along the drive, we can actually spot the radio tower on top of the hike.

The whole drive is about 1.7 miles each way from the Visitor Center, and 2.5 miles from the entrance. Most people opted to drive through this road but you can definitely walk all the way. If you’re up for the challenge, it is actually better because you can actually enjoy the view. If you’re driving, you cannot stop unless it’s at a designated parking area. There are many stops along the way with beautiful photos ops and trails so make sure to stop!

Hiking the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden

It is not so much hiking, more like a relaxing stroll. The majority of the trail and its branches in the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden are on grassy dirt paths with little elevation gain. You can start your hike from the trailhead at the visitor center. This walking trail leads to the lake and then branches out into several separate but joining paths. Feel free to wander off the path and explore the breathtaking landscape. When we visited in the Spring, many trees were blossoming with gorgeous, colorful flowers. It was quite a sight to see.

After exploring the area, you can continue back on the path to circle the lake. This path crosses over a small wooden bridge. After this bridge, if you go right, the trail leads uphill toward a wide picnic area with beautiful views of the lake below. If you’re ready to go back to the visitor center, you can pass through the picnic area to the Kahua Kuou and back to the main paved road. From the wooden bridge, if you go left instead, the trail continues to make form a semicircle around the lake. It then branches out to the overgrown Stream Trail. This section of the trail can get muddy and very lush. Since it is further, there are fewer visitors as well so you’ll get the whole area to yourself. If you’re lucky (or not), you might run into little piglets here.

Fishing

In the middle of the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden is a 32-acre reservoir, which was created to prevent flooding in the nearby neighborhoods. Normally, on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm, you can fish there. However, fishing is not available at the time that we published this blog. You can check with the garden to see if it’s available yet before going. There are bamboo poles and barbless hooks to be borrowed at the Visitor Center on a first-come, first-serve basis. This is a catch-and-release only. You can also bring your own, as long as the hooks are barbless.

Art Gallery

If you love art, there is a cute little art gallery inside the Visitor Center. You can stop by and support the local artists. They also have Art Day, every Tuesday from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm. You can come to paint and draw the plant life and the beautiful garden. Make sure to bring your own supplies.

Picnic

The Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden is a perfect place for having a picnic. There are many picnic areas sprinkled throughout the garden. If you prefer less crowded, go further away from the visitor center.

Camping

If you love camping, the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden is THE place. You can camp here throughout the weekend, starting from 9 am on Friday through 4 pm on Monday. Don’t forget to reserve your spot in advance here.

These are the gear that we personally use and find them helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.

adventure gear

Comfortable walking shoes – The garden is big. To be able to enjoy it the the fullest, you will need to do some walking.
Sunscreen – There are a lot of sun! We use eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen, Stream2Sea SPF 30 and All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter
Lunch and snacks – Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden is a perfect place for a quick lunch or a full on picnic. For healthy and easy snacks, check out some of our recipes.
Water – It can get very warm here. Make sure to bring enough water.
Insect Repellent – It can get buggy here.