9 Oahu Botanical Gardens that Prove Paradise Is Even More Beautiful Than You Thought

Would you believe that Oahu is even more gorgeous than you thought it was?

I wouldn’t have until I visited its spectacular botanical gardens. After living on Oahu for a few years, I realized that I was missing out on these treasures!

The island is full of lush greenery – colourful flowers, enormous trees (with flowers), and palms everywhere. So even as an obsessive plant lover, I never thought about looking for gardens dedicated to growing them all.

I may have been late to the game, but I’m so glad I found them! There are 9 amazing botanical gardens on Oahu, and one stunning arboretum – and I’m going to share them with you below. (My favourite is #6!)

Honolulu Area Botanical Gardens

These gardens are very doable on your own. Or if you decide to take a this private tour that you can customize for yourself, add it to your itinerary!

1. Foster Botanical Garden

Location: 50 N Vineyard Blvd, near downtown Honolulu

Hours: 9 am – 4 pm daily; allow 1-2 hours here

Features: Established in 1853, Foster is one of the oldest gardens in Hawaii. It’s home to a huge collection of plant species, featuring over 10,000 plants from across the world.

This garden specializes in tropical and subtropical flora, including many rare and exotic species. These include a tropical palm garden, orchids, the Prehistoric Glen Cycad Collection, and commercial plants like coffee.

You’ll also find several unusual trees, like African baobabs (actually a giant succulent!). And of course there are many outstanding native Hawaiian plants. This is a beautiful, restful garden.

Additional Activities at the Garden: Enjoy guided tours, self-guided walks, outdoor butterfly garden, and special events like lei making. You can even download a map of the garden online.

Nearby Attractions: Nearby are Chinatown, Iolani Palace, Bishop Museum (definitely worth a stop), and Ala Moana Center.

Accessible: It’s wheelchair and stroller accessible

Entry fee:

• Adults – $5
• Children (6-12 years) – $1
• Children (under 6 yrs) – free
• Kama’aina (Hawaii residents) and military – $3

Free parking is available. But it is limited, especially during peak visiting hours, so try to arrive early. There are also paid parking lots and metered street parking nearby.

🚃 The Honolulu Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley is a fun, open-air way to see the sights around the island, and it stops at Foster Botanical Gardens! Learn more and Book Here

2. Lili’uokalani Botanical Garden

Location:123 N. Kuakini St, downtown Honolulu

Hours: 7 am – 5 pm daily, allow 45 minutes to 1 hour in this small garden

Features: Lili’uokalani Botanical Garden is a little oasis in the city. It sits on land once owned, then donated, by Queen Lili’uokalani, Hawaii’s last reigning monarch.

The whole garden is dedicated to preserving native Hawaiian plants. It’s crossed by the Nuuanu Stream and has a pretty waterfall and small bridges, and is incredibly peaceful.

You’ll see a variety of native plants like Hawaiian hibiscus, kukui (candlenut), kalo (taro – what poi is made from), and hala (pandanus). The native plants are always the ones that keep me coming back.

Additional Activities at the Garden: The fall season usually brings a selection of classes like bonsai and dried wreath making. See their Facebook page to see what’s happening this year!

Nearby Attractions: The garden is centrally located near other attractions like Iolani Palace, the Honolulu Museum of Art, Chinatown, and Foster Botanical Garden.

Accessible: The main paths are paved and suitable for wheelchairs and strollers.

Entry Fee: Free for everybody

Parking: Limited free parking is available on-site. Additional metered parking can be found along nearby streets.

3. Mānoa Heritage Center

Location: 2856 Oahu Ave, Honolulu, in Mānoa Valley

Hours: Not open for general admission; 1-2 hour guided tours are offered on weekday afternoons and some Saturday mornings (see their website for details)

Features: You’ll get to see the historic property’s Hawaiian cultural gardens full of native Hawaiian plants. There are also ‘Polynesian Introduction Plants’, aka. ‘Canoe Plants’.

A unique feature of the Mānoa Garden is the partially reconstructed Hawaiian temple, the Kūkaʻōʻō Heiau. A heiau (said “hay ow”) is a temple built to worship the traditional gods of the Hawaiian people.

In addition to the stunning native plants, see Lila’s White Garden (a white flower garden was fashionable at one time).

The Tuahine Rain Garden is fascinating, too. It’s a specially-made plant-filled depression that filters stormwater and mimics nature’s water cycle. You’ll also see Bill Moragne’s exquisite hybrid plumeria trees.

Additional Activities at the Garden: They occasionally have classes such as kokedama making – combining moss with other plants to create your own tiny garden.

Nearby Attractions: Close by are the Lyon Arboretum, the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, and Mānoa Falls

Accessibility is limited due to some rocky and uneven pathways; contact Mānoa Heritage Center for more info at (808) 988-1287.

Entry fee:

• Adults – $20
• Children (6-12 years) – $1
• Children (under 6 yrs) – free
• Hawaii Teacher (with ID) and Students under 18: Free
• Kama’aina (Hawaii residents) – $10
• If you arrive on a bicycle: Get 50% off the admission rate

4. Moanalua Gardens

Location: 99-22 Aiea Heights Dr, Aiea (in the Moanalua district near the pink Tripler Army Medical Center)

Hours: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm daily for self-guided tours; allow 1-2 hours

Features: This is a beautifully landscaped, historical garden. It was once part of the private estate of a prominent figure in Hawaii in the late 19th century.

The gardens are best known for the iconic Hitachi Tree. The massive and distinctive monkeypod tree, and a national symbol in Japan.

The estate also features other remarkable trees, including kukui, mango, and hau. You’ll also see traditional Hawaiian fishponds and historical structures like the King Kamehameha V Cottage. It’s a really interesting look back in time.

Additional Activities at the Garden: The third weekend in July is the Prince Lot Hula Festival. See hula groups from around the island perform, watch cultural performances, and enjoy craft and food vendors.

This festival is so much fun, and the food is always so ono (‘delicious’)!

Nearby Attractions: While you’re in the neighbourhood, visit the Pearl Harbour National Memorial, Salt Lake District Park, and the Honolulu Country Club.

Accessible, with paved paths and some wheelchair-accessible restrooms

Entry fee: Free for everyone

Parking: Free parking available on-site

Central Oahu Gardens

5. Wahiawa Botanical Garden (HGB Gardens)

Location: 1396 California Avenue, Wahiawa

Hours: 9 am – 4 pm daily; allow 30 minutes to 1 hour

Features: Wahiawa Botanical Garden is in the unexpectedly cool, upland climate of central Oahu. The garden is known as the “Tropical Jewel” of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens system, with a huge collection of tropical and sub-tropical plants.

This garden focuses on species that love a rainforest-like environment. You can see collections of native Hawaiian plants, orchids, bromeliads, tree ferns (my favourites!), and some different rare species.

I love the giant Rainbow Eucalyptus tree. The bark is an orange colour, and it peels away, leaving stripes of unbelievable colours beneath. (I had these outside my dentist’s office window – they took the sting out of a visit a little bit 😄.)

The garden’s layout includes meandering paths, footbridges, and shaded walkways beneath towering trees. It’s a sublime place to wander through.

Additional Activities at the Garden: Guided tours are available if you’d like a deeper look into the plants and their ecological importance. There are also self-guided walking tours, horticultural workshops, and educational programs.

Nearby Attractions: The Dole Plantation is close by and is a little touristy, but definitely worth some time. Get a Dole Whip!

Accessible: Some areas are accessible, with paved paths suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. However, due to the uneven terrain in certain parts of the garden, caution is advised.

Entry Fee: Free for all visitors

Parking: Free parking is available at the garden’s entrance.

North Shore Gardens

6. Waimea Valley Botanical Gardens

Location: 59-864 Kamehameha Highway, Haleiwa, North Shore of Oahu

Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily; you could easily spend a full day here. Allow at least 4-6 hours.

Features: Waimea Valley Botanical Gardens is one of my favourites on the island. It’s a site with a lot of history and culture associated with it. The gardens have more than 5,000 species of tropical and subtropical plants, many of them endemic to Hawaii.

At the end a sacred 14-metre waterfall – Waimea Falls – where you can swim. They’ll provide you with (mandatory) life jackets.

The gardens reflect traditional Hawaiian planting practices and focus on native, endangered, and Polynesian Introduction Plants. There are even traditional Hawaiian thatched huts and archaeological sites.

It’s a great 3 km hike through the gardens, with lots of stops and things to see, all ending in the beautiful waterfall.

🌺 This tour makes it easy➛ See Waimea Botanical Gardens AND Byodo-In Temple. Pick up right from your hotel. There are even options to skip any lines at the garden, and to ride through on a golf cart. Click for availability and to book!

Additional Activities at the Garden: There are cultural demonstrations, workshops, and guided nature walks to learn about Hawaiian flora and cultural heritage.

Swimming at Waimea Falls is popular, and the gardens have birdwatching, a place to buy refreshments, and picnic areas.

There are also many events throughout the year, such as markets, movie nights, and cultural tours. Look through their webpage to find out more.

Nearby Attractions: Waimea Bay Beach Park (home to big wave surfing in the winter months), Sunset Beach, and the North Shore town of Haleiwa. It’s also near Toa Luau – make sure you enjoy a luau while you’re on the island!

Accessibility: The gardens are wheelchair and stroller accessible with paved pathways, ramps, and accessible facilities.

Entry Fee:

• Adults (13+): $25
• Children (4-12): $14
• Children (under 4): Free
• Seniors (62+): $18
• Kama’aina (Hawaii residents) and Military: $18

Parking:
Free parking is available on-site with plenty of spaces for visitors.

Gardens on the Windward Side

7. Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden

Location: 45-680 Luluku Road, Kaneohe

Hours: 9 am – 4 pm daily; allow about 1-4 hours here, depending on how much you want to do

Features: Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden is stunning, and conveniently located in Kaneohe. It’s known for its peaceful setting in the rainforests, at the base of the towering Koʻolau Mountains. In fact, its name means Peaceful Refuge.

Its sprawling 400 acres is covered with plant collections from tropical places all around the world. It focuses on plants from the Philippines, Malaysia, Polynesia, and Sri Lanka, especially.

Additional Activities at the Garden: At Ho’omaluhia you can try catch-and-release fishing at the lake (you need to bring your own equipment). There are also self-guided and guided nature walks and birdwatching.

Plus, the garden hosts workshops, art exhibits, and educational programs to explore the tropical plants and their role in ecosystems. You can also go camping on-site with a reservation.

Nearby Attractions: Kaneohe town is a smallish place with a mall and restaurants. Kaneohe Bay and Byodo-In Temple are close by, too.

Accessible: The garden is wheelchair and stroller accessible, with paved pathways and accessible facilities.

Entry Fee: Free for all everybody

Parking: Free parking is available on-site, with lots of space.

East Oahu Gardens

8. Koko Crater Botanical Garden

Location: 7491 Kokonani St, Honolulu, East Oahu

Hours: Sunrise to Sunset daily; the trail around the garden is about 3 km, and can take about 1-2 hours.

Features: Koko Crater Botanical Garden is inside the crater of an ancient volcanic tuff cone. It has a stark landscape that is very different from other, more lush gardens on Oahu.

This garden specializes in xerophytic (dry-loving) plants, with lots of cacti, succulents, and plumeria varieties.

There are also native Hawaiian plants adapted to arid conditions. The garden’s dryland collections include plants from Africa, Madagascar, and the Americas.

This aridness may be why I found this Koko Crater to be the one disappointment out of all of these gardens. It was dry, and the plants were small and unhealthy-looking. It might be something you’d like to see, but I never went back.

Additional Activities at the Garden: The garden has a 2-mile loop trail that winds through the various plant zones. It’s a favourite spot for photographers, particularly during the spring when the plumeria trees are in full bloom (March to October).

Nearby Attractions: Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Sandy Beach, and the Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail are all fairly close.

You’ll find snorkelling, hiking, and stupendous coastal views. Just the drive from Koko Crater to the lighthouse is worth the trip. The garden is also the beginning of the adventurous Koko Crater Rim Trail, a 4 km loop.

Accessible: The trail is not paved and can be uneven and rocky, making it less suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.

Entry Fee: Free for everyone

Parking: Free parking is available at the entrance to the garden.

Leeward Side Gardens

9. Halawa Xeriscape Garden

Location: 99-1268 Iwaena Street, Aiea

Hours: Wednesday and Saturday only, 9 am – 3 pm; allow 30 minutes to an hour here.

Features: The Halawa Xeriscape Garden is a demonstration garden. It displays landscaping practices for water conservation, focusing on xeriscaping, aka dryscaping.

It gives practical examples of drought-tolerant plants and ingenious irrigation techniques. They have over three acres of different native Hawaiian plants, succulents, and Mediterranean herbs.

You’ll learn how to create beautiful, low-maintenance landscapes that thrive in a climate like Hawaii’s.

Additional Activities at the Garden: Guided tours and workshops are available for those interested in learning about water-wise gardening practices. These are generally on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The garden holds an annual open house and Unthirsty Plant Sales the first week of August. I found this stuff fascinating! And I always did a little shopping, too 🌵.

Nearby Attractions: The Aloha Stadium Swap Meet (Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays), Pearlridge Center Shopping Mall, and the Pearl Harbour Memorials.

Accessible: The garden is wheelchair and stroller accessible with wide gravel paths.

Entry Fee: Free for all everyone

Parking: Free parking is available on-site, you should have no trouble finding a spot.

Bonus: Lyon Arboretum (Honolulu Area)

An arboretum concerns itself with woody plants, like trees and shrubs, instead of non-woody plants and flowers. I think Lyon’s definitely earns a spot on this list, though, and it does actually include a botanical garden.

Location: 3860 Mānoa Road, Honolulu, nestled in Mānoa Valley

Hours: 9 am – 3 pm Monday – Friday, closed on weekends and bank holidays; allow 2-4+ hours here

Features: The Lyon Arboretum is a 200-acre tropical rainforest and botanical garden. It’s managed by the University of Hawaii at Mānoa.

Lyon is home to more than 5,000 tropical plants. These include native Hawaiian species, Polynesian Introduction Plants, and other rare and exotic species from around the world.

The arboretum is particularly known for its ethnobotanical gardens*, bromeliad and palm collections, and the Harold L. Lyon Orchid Garden.

* Ethnobotanical gardens are specialized botanical gardens that focus on the relationship between people and plants. Its plants are important in different cultures for their historical, medicinal, culinary, spiritual, or other traditional uses.

Additional Activities at the Garden: You can attend educational workshops and classes on horticulture, gardening, and conservation. Their little gift shop has books, locally made products, and souvenirs.

I was really impressed by the University’s commitment to conservation and its role in preserving native Hawaiian plants. I think you will be too!

Nearby Attractions: Mānoa Falls Trail is fantastic, plus Mānoa Heritage Center (above), and the University of Hawaii at Mānoa campus are all close by.

Accessible: Some trails are paved, but the arboretum has uneven terrain that can make some areas challenging for wheelchairs and strollers. Accessible restrooms are available.

Entry Fee:

• General Admission: $10
• Kama’aina (Hawaii residents) and Military: $5
• University of Hawaii students and children under 12: Free

Parking: Limited parking is available on-site. There is additional paid parking near the University of Hawaii at Mānoa campus.

Map of Oahu Botanical Gardens

Summing It Up – Oahu Botanical Gardens

Just when you thought Oahu couldn’t get any better – enter Oahu’s spectacular gardens. If you want to see all of the tropical flora of the area up close and personal, these are perfect.

I recommend picking a few and exploring them thoroughly as you make your way around the island. Then if you have time, pick a few more!

Aloha!