Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden

Beautiful free public gardens on the far side of the mountains away from Waikiki. We had a rental car so it was an easy half hour drive. I agree with the recommendations to drive all the way to the end first look around and then work your way back be sure and allow time to stop at the visitor center and get oriented and have a view of the lake and learn more about all the different plants you’ve seen their website has a great detailed map as well. That’s good to preview if you want to see a specific area or species.

100% must do when you visit the island. I took the bus from Waikiki to the gardens. Not too bad of a bus ride and I highly recommend going early in the morning. After walking through a beautiful neighbored you arrive at the gates of the garden. Lush greenery with amazing mountain tops and oversized ancient trees. Breathtaking! Once you arrive to the visitor areas, you can view some fun facts and make your way to the lake. Another jaw dropping moment. Ducks, birds, the VIEW......... sit on the bench to take it all in. It's absolutely beautiful. I can't believe you pay nothing to enter. I would go back 100 times.

What a beautiful and amazing place to drive through. They made it super accessible by car. This place is perfect for people that aren’t advanced hikers as nothing is too long and everything is very accessible. The beauty is captivating and super picturesque. You can be here for 30 minutes or you can spend 5 hours here. Bring the family or come on a date. You really cannot go wrong.

Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden – A Peaceful Paradise on Oʻahu Our visit to Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden was the perfect way to slow down and immerse ourselves in Oʻahu’s lush beauty. 🌿 A Scenic Arrival The drive to the garden takes you through a charming residential area, and as soon as you reach the entrance, the scenery opens into something spectacular. We stopped at the park office, where one of the staff kindly explained the importance of this and other parks in the area—sharing insight that made our visit even more meaningful. 🥾 Exploring the Trails The garden offers many trails to wander, and we happily spent hours exploring them. Every path felt like a new chapter in a story, with towering greenery, colorful plants, and plenty of wildlife. We spotted different wild animals and butterflies, which made the experience even more magical. 🍱 Lunch with a View We packed our own lunch and enjoyed it surrounded by nature—an incredibly peaceful break before continuing our walk. 🌦️ Helpful Tips for Visitors • It gets hot here, and at times a little wet—be prepared for changing weather. • Wear shoes with good traction, especially if you’re tackling the muddier trails. • Bring insect repellent, and please make it an environmentally friendly one to help protect the plants and wildlife. 🌸 Final Thoughts Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden is truly a perfect place to enjoy nature. With its lush landscapes, peaceful trails, and rich biodiversity, it’s more than just a park—it’s a sanctuary. Whether you’re here for a quiet stroll, photography, or simply to take in the views, you’ll leave refreshed and inspired.

A beautiful and peaceful place surrounded by lush greenery, mountains, and a serene lake. The atmosphere feels like a movie scene, especially in the morning with mist and soft light. Perfect for relaxing walks and photos. Free admission, clean, safe, and well-maintained with convenient parking.

Opening hours are 9 am to 4 pm. This is free. This is a drive thru botanical garden with a great scenic view of the mountains. You can stop and walk there are parkings. We did not have the best weather but it is stunning. A must do.

Fantastic botanical garden. You can stroll around and see unique, exotic plants — all well described. The atmosphere feels 100% like the Hawaiian interior — it’s like stepping into Jurassic Park. Buy tickets online.

This is not your typical Botanical Garden. It's more like a drive, stop, and view overlook experience. The variety of plants is mind blowing. They have vegetation from all over the world. The Mountains and Foliage is lush and green. The park is free which is great. I would have been happy to pay a few bucks to support better signage and pedestrian pathways. It's definitely worth a visit.

Ho'omaluhia Garden is so beautiful and spacious. You can drive or step out and walk in many areas.  The amazing Ko'olau Range is so close amidst trees, grass, lake,...    The paths are very nice. There are signs on various trees stating what they are. I was surprised to see so many fruit trees that I only know from, well from ordering food! An Acai bowl, pandan pastry, etc. and there they were growing. (Yes, I'm a city girl)

This botanical garden is an ideal spot for weddings, photography, relaxation, picnics, and simply enjoying the mountains and surrounding vegetation. Despite being a tourist attraction, it's not overcrowded, and the people are very friendly. However, it closes quite early, around 4 o'clock. The downside is that it could be dangerous for pedestrians because of drivers trying to take pictures while driving, even though there are signs warning against it. Apart from that, it's a perfect place to relax and enjoy the views away from the water. It's one of my favorite places to visit on weekdays, as I imagine weekends are crowded. If you visit every so often, you should definitely check this place out; you will not be disappointed.

If we had more time in the day, we definitely would have spent hours just walking and driving around Hoomaluhia Batonical Garden. It was so peaceful, relaxing, and a breath of fresh air. We took a lot of pictures and videos just because it was so beautiful. By the way, have I mentioned that it's FREE to go in?! Amazing.

Hoomaluhai Botanical Garden was absolutely beautiful -- one of the many highlights of my Hawaii trip :') The views at this botanical garden was absolutely stunning -- super green and peaceful. We visited the lake which had lots of koi fish and duckies, and walked around the garden and enjoyed the view. The sun was in and out while we were there -- luckily no rain (a lot of fellow yelpers said there was rain hehe) We stayed for less than an hour and got to enjoy this beautiful Hawaii landmark. I'll be back during my next visit.

One of our favorite botanical garden to visit when we are on O'ahu. It is a lush, peaceful retreat nestled at the base of the Koʻolau Mountains in Kaneohe. It features tropical plants from around the world, scenic walking paths, and a tranquil lake overjoyed with koi fishes. The dramatic mountain backdrop makes it a favorite spot for photos and quiet reflection. Whether you're a nature lover, photographer, or just seeking a calm escape from the city, Hoomaluhia offers a truly serene and breathtaking experience. Light crowd not overwhelming full of people. The best part, it's free to enter!

This botanical garden was ok; free admission. We did the walk from the visitor center down to the lake.. not as spectacular as I expected. Very busy- few different areas to park. A little bit of downhill/ uphill.

If you are travelling by private vehicle, Byodo-In Temple is 15 minutes away. If you visit the gardens, I would include the temple as part of your day trip. Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens is first, and foremost, a flood control project. It was designed, built and is maintained by the US Army Corp of Engineers. I mention this because you will occasionally see signs asking you to stay out of, or refrain from taking photos in, certain areas. (I'm just saying). The rainforest garden has plants from major tropical regions around the world. It also has a lake and walking trail. From the visitor center towards the lake, the trail has a downhill grade. The first third of the trail is a serpentine concrete walkway. Afterwards, the trail is hardpack soil + aggregate mix. I would rate the walk as "easy" for most people who do not have mobility issues. Towards the lake, there is a pavilion with picnic tables. There are a fewer picnic tables and benches near the lake. The lake has a lot of koi. Frankly, if you are looking for a botanic garden which curates and labels a lot of individual plant specimens, there are other botanic gardens on the island that do a better job. However, this garden does provide a nice park experience; and the ambiance of a tropical paradise. (And this is first, and foremost, a flood control project.)

Love coming here for it's peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. The weather was sunny and clear on the day that we visited. We actually brought our lunches here. It was the perfect scenery. We walked to the lake which was full of koi fish. We went further into the garden which happened to be campsites. We lit to park and just walk at different sections of the garden. You will see many people take pictures for their wedding or special occasion Bathrooms are available and easily accessible. Park closes at 4pm.

Yes, this is a most beautiful place but did you know they host classes, such as meditation, painting and lei making? I like to come out the Friday before Memorial Day to make lei for veteran tombstones. Check out the classes on Honolulu Dept Parks & Recreation website! Most classes are free or low cost. Just another reason why #luckywelivehawaii

Most peaceful scenic drive with breathtaking mountain views, tropical gardens, and cooler temperatures. Plus, it's free admission. Very straightforward road. I stopped at the Botanical Garden Lake, where I spotted a Mongoose. They're like Hawaiian squirrels with a slender and longer body than the fatty squirrels I have back home. Lots of public restrooms are available near the parking lots. Too bad I didn't take any pictures since I was too distracted by the greenery. It was quiet and serene, away from the tourists. They close early at 4 pm, so come at 2 pm to complete the tour.

It's beautiful and peaceful here. It was a nice break from white sandy beaches and the bustling city life of Waikīkī. Since it's still summer, there were not a lot of flowering plants, but I imagine that the spring time would be an ideal time to visit after the rainy season. It's definitely a nice walk and a good way to spend time in nature.

Beautiful. Free. Nice short hike. Lots of variety of trees and flowers. Lots of shade. Bathrooms available. You can't swim in the lake, but there are beautiful orange midas cichlids (usually confused for koi fish) in the lake (see picture). There are lots of ducks and a variety of smaller birds as well. This was my first time here and won't be my last.

This is still one of my favorite places on the island. I noticed far more influencer-type people at the garden this time around, and unfortunately, some of them were standing in the middle of the road taking pictures, despite numerous signs asking not to do so. The place felt a bit busier, but it was still quite relaxing. We picked up food from Adela's and had a picnic, which was lovely.

I LOVE THIS GARDEN! It's a gorgeous beautiful place to get away clear your mind and appreciate God's beauty. The ducks are cute and can be feed if you would like to what really captivated me was how green it is heading into this beautiful botanical garden and the pound that is there. Too bad can't go in for a quick dip but it's relaxing and if you would like to have lunch there you can there are tables with benches or bring a blanket and have a picnic. Love it here!!!

I expected more for a botanical garden. We walked to the lake and felt it was a bit underwhelmed. There wasn't much to look at. A lot of greenery but nothing special that caught my attention. Some trails were muddy so I would recommend wearing a pair of shoes you don't mind getting mud on. There is a small education center next to the parking lot. There are also restrooms and portable potty to use.

Every time we go to this area, it's always raining so expect sudden weather changes... it is Kaneohe after all. We love this botanical garden because it is spacious, super green and lush, and is a beautiful backdrop for photos. If you go all the way to the top, people take a lot of pictures with the mountain backdrop. Many people also visit the huge lake as well. I saw on social media that you can "fish" there now, but I didn't check this out personally yet. It might be a fun activity with the ohana. The entrance to the garden is nestled in a neighborhood of regular homes. Please make sure to be aware that these are private homes and not to be a nuisance. Usually an unko is sitting/standing nearby the entrance to greet you as you enter and/or answer any questions. Parking: Parking can be a little more difficult at times because there are a lot of people visiting. Please be mindful of the road signs and people standing where they are not supposed to at times!

Beautiful location but honestly I felt like it was a very hyped up location to visit. There are definitely prettier gardens in Hawaii but the lush greens never get boring to look at. We didn't have time to hike to the lake, so maybe the views at the lake were prettier than the drive up and down and the short walk we took down one of the paths.

Pictures do not do this garden justice. So beautiful and breathtaking. It's free to get in. Check in at the visitors center, get the map and start your adventure. You can start off by walking to the lake which is about a 10-15 walk, takes lots of photos along the way. Once you are done there you get back into your car and start your drive. You can stop at each one and walk or none and just drive. Either way you can enjoy the gorgeous views.

This was amazing. Very peaceful. Was shrouded in clouds and looked like a rain forest. I highly recommend visiting. It is free and they even have staff to help you. Some trails are partially accessible.

This place is free for everyone to come and enjoy. I wish I had the name of the Ranger who was working at the visitor center. She was super knowledgeable and friendly. She was helping everyone non-stop and answering questions. This month they have a pastel art gallery in one of the buildings. One of the artist was in there working... she paused her work to answer a couple of young kids question and proceeded to show them on how pastels work.

This place is beautiful and tranquil.. It's the best kept secret. ( People do not like to share this sacred space. ) There's several trails that lead to the pond and there is trails the go all around the property,, but it didn't check them all out. Some lead to some fantastic views. The trail we did, leading from the large parking lot, went through luscious trees into a courtyard down a rocky trail to the pond. And we followed another trail back to the parking lot. It's a long road that leads you around the property, you might want to drive, ( the one you see feature in everyone's photos/videos. ). Unless you don't mind walking. I brought a nice picnic and some things for photos. You want to make sure you have room in your camera. This place is picturesque Please note : There are drivers driving around to make sure people you are behaving. There are some rules, you have to park in the parking slots. No stopping traffic to take photos. And there are no dogs allowed.

This place is so beautiful and so green . I love the variety of plants and greenery . You can just drive through or you can park and go on many of the trails they have. They also have a nice little lake . Perfect spot to have a little picnic and the best part is it's free .

Beautiful botanical garden. Visited today, 6/23/25. Free to visit. The drive is beautiful with lush greenery and trees. There's even a lake! The best part is there's restrooms available throughout and clean too! Definitely highly recommended and worth the drive to Kaneohe.

These Botanical Gardens are beautiful and better yet it is free to roam these beautiful tropical gardens. It is very serene and a great place to meditate and take in all the beauty. They close at 4:00 pm so be sure to allow enough time if you are doing a circle island drive around the island .

This was a very unique botanical garden as it was more like a forest, which was interesting. It is huge! A good and bad thing depending on what you are looking for. I was looking to see some native Hawaiian flowers and plants. I got to see plants, but saw pretty much no flowers even though I walked around for 1.5 hours. Pretty disappointing for me. I should've just explored peoples' yards as there was more to see than the area I walked around.

I've been coming to this insanely beautiful place for years. It is wonderful for a day spent in nature, a picnic, photos, running and cycling on the road, and even camping with a permit. I've done all of the above recently. Ho'omaluhia is magical, a curated expanse of plants both native and from worldwide. There's a pond full of koi to feed and the views are spectacular.

Such a beautiful spot to visit on O'ahu! Perfect for bringing your family and friends to take lots of scenic pictures both in the forests, along the pond, or on some of the scenic lookouts. It's free and maintained by the State. Visitor Center has maps and helpful information if needed. Just a reminder to be courteous of the environment, others, and passing cars!

Easy, short walk. Only HALF is PAVED - we brought a stroller, it was just a little bumpy and rocky. Lots of shaded area and tables to sit and eat at by the lake. Lots of ducks and koi fish that you're allowed to feed. LOTS of PARKING and beautiful views. Not to much to do activity-wise.

My friend wanted to show me this place. It was so beautiful and amazing. You pull up and tell the guy you're local and a resident if you live here. The asks how many are in the vehicle. I told him two. Not sure if they do this to keep track of who comes in here. As we drove, beautiful trees and scenery here. There are multiple places you can park. I definitely liked that. People were taking photos here along the trees I thought posting me a d my friend would be nice. I would definitely come back here.

If my expat friend hadn't sent me an article on this amazing place, I don't think I'd have added this to my recent trip. We'd been to Oahu numerous times over the years but never heard of this breath taking place. Built by the US Army Corps of Engineers to control flooding for Kaneohe , its 400 acres. Plantings from various tropical regions of the world including plants indigenous to Hawaii. We did the one mile drive through the garden. We also visited the small visitor center. We avoided walking as it had just rained. What was the biggest ooh aah moment was the massive Ko'olau Range. Glance up and it'll take your breath away. It's a great photo opp. And the best part - free admission.

An absolute must to visit to get the breathtaking view of what Jurassic park might've looked like. Plan to go early to ensure a parking spot and get your cameras out as soon as you pull in because the entrance is breathtaking. No entrance or parking fee. There isn't too much more to see but it's still worth a visit drive and walk through.

Who doesn't love a free botanical garden?! Lol. Very pretty botanical garden with some light walking. Make sure to wear sturdy walking shoes or secure sandals because there's an area that can get muddy.

We like botanical gardens a lot so when we found out about this place we had to go. Little did I know that it is completely free! No admission fee, no parking fee. Totally free. You start at the Education Center to get a map then proceed from there. Essentially, there is main road you can walk along or drive along to different "stops," where there are paths to walk to the lake or to see different groupings of plants and trees. Most people go to the first stop that has a path to the lake, so if you go a bit farther the crowds thin out substantially. We enjoyed this botanical garden but it was not the best we have been to in Hawaii. Don't get me wrong, the scenery is beautiful. But the prize is held by the botanical garden on the Big Island, north of Hilo. That one was spectacular. This one is good. Hint: the earlier you go, the less likely you will have problems with parking.

After Sofie's Vet check I decided to drive through the garden to jump on the H3 from the Likelike side. There's a security person checking all visitors and vehicles at this entrance. I've driven through the garden numerous times but from the other side so I've never been stopped previously. I was told I had to turn around as I couldn't enter the park with an animal. Didn't make a difference that we weren't getting out of the car just no entry. The man was nice and polite so we just turned around and home on the Pali H3 exit. I'm not sure it they've started checking Likelike entrance because we've driven through numerous times but no can do on the Kamehameha side entrance (by Masa's).

Amazingly unique and stunning. Not what I had expected but stunning! Undeniably beautiful! The lushness is unforgettable. Worth the trip.

I loved going here, I saw it all over instagram so I made sure I went. The staff is nice and there is a visitor help center if you want more information. The views are incredible for photos. Although the only thing is, you can't actually get out of your car and go on the road for photos, which is understandable but I just didn't except it. There is a few spots where you're able to do that, but only one isn't a parking lot. It's a walking and driving experience, but we drove through it all because it would be an extremely long, uphill walk to make it all the way. I didn't know there was a lake in the gardens but there were many signs leading the way to it. The walk down/up to the lake is a bit steep but it's worth it!! The lake was filled with fish and ducks and the water was sparkling, very beautiful!!

100% a place to go to! HUGE free botanical garden. Astounding for locals, tourists, kids, elderly, active outdoors hiking people, everybody. Driving through this garden felt like I was transported into a different world. Lush green plant life everywhere and all around. Plenty of camping grounds as well, permits are needed. Even the hiking options are plentiful. We didn't know about the hiking option and just picked a random camping ground and started walking and it was gorgeous. You can also just drive through if you want to to hike. Lots of clean bathrooms. Great for a picnic. Aestically pleasing place for a photo shoot. Overall fantastic all around

We visited for the first time on our last visit. We were staying in Waikiki and it's worth the drive. We drove through and took a walk to the lake from the visitor center and walked up to the overlook. The scenery is unbelievable. Definitely a place to check out. You will not be disappointed!

It was fun to hike and explore the different checkpoints and see the different greenery.

Stunning from the moment you drive in! Every turn on the road is more and more breathtaking. This is a free botanical garden and self-guided. There is no passing on the road so take your time taking photos/videos but be mindful of those driving behind you. Bring a good camera! We saw several people taking dressed up family photos and what an amazing spot to do so. We spent about 1.5 hr exploring. We parked at the visitors center and took the short walk down to the lake - amazing views and koi in the lake. We then drove to the end and got out of the car to walk around and take more photos and take in the sights. Several people packed in lunch and were eating at the picnic area. I'll definitely keep this place in mind next time I'm in Oahu!

A Local Gem In Kaneohe Town A stunning natural sanctuary that showcases the beauty and diversity of tropical flora. The name "Hoomaluhia" translates to "a peaceful refuge," and that perfectly encapsulates the serene atmosphere that visitors can experience within the gardens. The gardens were established in 1982 and have since become a popular destination for both locals and tourists seeking respite from the bustling city life. You can enjoy this garden free-of-charge with lots of parking and clean restrooms. A great place to lay your picnic basket and enjoy your company in lush surroundings.

Get your walking shoes on! And be patient with parking. This place gets busy. So much to see, and very peaceful when you are out looking. I forgot to take more pictures. I would love to go see the other botanical gardens.

Lovely drive. Narrow road, so drive carefully. 15 mph speed limit, so sometimes lines of cars stack up . Beautiful plants. Nice small education center. Scattered picnic areas.

Dropped by the botanical garden on the way back to hotel from the beach. Cute and peaceful area. I felt zen leaving

If I could give a million stars I would!!!! If you can fit this oasis into your itinerary I suggest you make it happen. It is quite the feast for the eyes from beginning to end. There is something so healing to be smack dab in the middle of nature. This place makes you feel as if you have been transported somewhere out of this world. The colors are so vibrant. The mountain ranges look so huge as if they are standing guard. The walk down to the lake is a short 10 minutes from the parking lot and visiting center. If you think the pictures I've attached are beautiful seeing them in person is 1000 times better. As I told my boys, listen to the sounds. The sounds of the wind, birds, etc. I love that along the path down to the lake there were name cards in front of various plants and trees. There were several parking lots. There was even a camping spot where people had tents and were grilling towards the end of the drive. There were families taking what looked like their family photos (you have to get permission from the visitors center beforehand I believe). When you get to the entrance a gentleman stops your car and asks a few questions and then shares the rules of the garden and where the visitor center is. There were clean bathrooms at the visiting center. A great place to get your steps in if you are interested. We came a week before Christmas and although overcast it was still a big humid, but nothing you can't handle to enjoy this breathtaking paradise. This place reminds you that you are in Hawaii!

Everyone comes here for that famous IG photo, which is immediately at the entrance upon entering. There's a guy at the front of the gate that tells you you're not allowed to stop and get out of the car to take any photos whatsoever as IG has made it such a huge issue. Other than that it's a nice drive through the park and to hike if you know where to hike.

Beautiful. Free. Worth Visiting. I came here with my Dad while staying in Waikiki. We took a Lyft here and it was maybe about 25 mins away? Not bad. The drive into the gardens is beautiful. You've probably seen it on social media accounts from "influencers" lol. Beautiful, lush green gardens. We got dropped off at the visitor's center. It was open and you can meet some (volunteer?) staff there and learn about the gardens and Hawaiin history. There were restrooms nearby, refillable water stations and a vending machine for sodas and water. The grounds of the gardens were beautiful. Lots of beautiful backdrops with the mountains, the lake, tons of koi fish, and some trails you can walk around. You can really make this visit either short or as long as you'd like. My dad and I are hikers so we walked around the gardens on some of the paths from the map we got at the visitors center. We stayed here for about 3 hours exploring the area. Highly recommend visiting if you want a day time activity. Great spot for family photos and a place to walk around and take in the beautiful scenery.

This gem of a garden is tucked away in a nondescript neighborhood, but was an incredible way to spend a morning. It's free to the public, which makes it all the more amazing. The staff at the educational center was so knowledgeable and friendly. They even taught my daughter how to make ti leaves leis that are put on veteran headstones on Veterans Day. We took a short hike to the lake and enjoyed the birds and schools of fish as we marveled at all the beautiful trees, flowers and various plants. After the lake we drove to the end of the gardens for more scenic views and pictures. There were lots of parking spaces and picnic tables throughout the garden so you never feel crowded. One of the best deals in Oahu.

Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden is an amazing and BEAUTIFUL spot hidden on the mountainside in Kaneohe. I have been here many times, but I was able to bring my kids along this time. They loved it! We're on a mission to do the 1000 hours outside challenge this year, so this was honestly the perfect place to come! There are so many things to do outdoors here, obviously. We spent 3 hours here today, plating with other kids, checking out the lake, looking for bugs, etc. They even want to learn how to fish now, and ask their Daddy of we could camp a day or two too! This botanical garden is by far, my favorite on the island. There are so many spots you could hang out at, ample parking, a multitude of things to do an see, it's a beautiful setting! You'll never be disappointed here, no way possible. An amazing setting to see so much of the nature beauty that God created.