Halawa Xeriscape Garden

Aloha everyone, I have a friend named Diane Moses of whom I recently had the pleasure of completing a six-​month Permaculture design course with. She has been our guru on xeriscape gardening and drought tolerant native and indigenous plants. While undergoing this course I became aware of the importance of rainwater harvesting and water flow on site. These topics I have became even more important as we recently had a Permablitz (see PermablitzHI on Facebook) and Diane was a key component in not only the hard work in the yard but also in helping us with a water catchment system. We were scrambling to find rain barrels when I contacted Diane and she quickly located just what we needed. We arranged to get two 55 gallon drums and one 250 gallon tote:) This new addition to our landscape will greatly improve the water flow and retention on site and provide us with an awesome addition to our aquaponics system. We are very grateful to Diane Moses, The Halawa Xeriscape Gardens and the Board of water supply! So if you’re in the neighborhood please come and check out the gardens and say hello to Diane

This review is mainly for the annual plant sale the Board of Water Supply hosts. They have a variety of plants that don’t require water to grow or also known as perennial plants. The main reason why my mom loves buying these type of plants and you save water. It’s a surprise how many people have been attending this sale since this event started. It’s even a surprise how the prices for the plants have gone up since it was first started. My mom noticed they raised up the prices. Their check out lines need improvement. They have separate tables for those paying cash, credit card, and checks. My mom was getting ready to pay for the plants when another person cut in front of us and we had to wait for the next cashier. The person directing the customers to which table to pay for the plants need to give clear directions and ask all customers to wait until the next cashier is available. It was confusing where we could stand before purchasing the plants.
The Board of Water Supply was passing out free mulch per person. They even provided free activities for the children and Hawaii Electric and the State Agriculture had their own booths with information packets, games and free prizes to give out. There is a food and drink booth for purchase after browsing the aisles of plants and checking out the beautiful garden full of varies plants. I personally believe this place offers great educational opportunities for the children to learn about mother nature and how to care for these different species of plants. who knows maybe one day they want to grow up to become a botanist or work in the agriculture field.
Free shuttle transportation is provided for those who do not want to walk or have trouble walking. There are green signs posted on the sidewalks on both sides for pick up or drop off. Handy service for the elderly customers.
This sale is usually held in the beginning of August each year. Come down and bring your hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen because it’s hot down there.

It’s the annual open house and untiring plant sale today at the Garden. Lots of great things happening! Plants galore, activities for the kids. Here until 3pm.

I agree with previous reviewers in that this really is a hidden gem. Very humble and easily over looked.
I just randomly came by to practice some photography and kill time. I took the time to read all the signs and found that the amount of community effort really makes this place extra special. It takes some interesting navigation to walk through every pathway and check out all that the garden offers. But overall this is a really small, humble garden. It is definitely a place that you can come to take a breather or relax.
This place from what I know does offer workshops, you can leave more about it when you check in with the security guard. The parking lot is small, but enough to accommodate the amount of people who visit. Bathrooms are available here.

One of those hidden gems in the Halawa Valley. Was told by the security guard that this used to be a popular spot for weddings and special events, but hasn’t been the case for years now. Seems like hardly anyone ever comes here anymore, and that is because of little to no advertising and the fact that it’s at the end of a long road consisting of industrial businesses and contractors. However, this is a really beautiful small garden that I think other tourists and especially Hawaii residents ought to know more about and check out when they are in the area.

what: displays a series of xeric (dry) plants in a residential-​scale setting to demonstrate species capable of providing a visually attractive garden, while using less water than most currently popular plants.
something good: it was my first time here and the reason i came was because they were having a big plant sale! i must say that the event was really cool and well planned out! the facility is really beautiful and although i didn’t get a chance to tour the entire grounds, i will most definitely try to next time i come here :) !! i was very impressed by the gardens and everyone must try to make it down for the plant sale (if you love plants!!).
something not so good: amazing facility!
something to try: plant sale :)

Got water?
The Board of Water Supply wants us to save water and be more conscientious in our selection of foliage. They open this xeriscape garden to the public to recognize plants which can aid in water conservation.
I brought the kiddies on a community day to check out their annual plant sale and open house. I was shocked to see the different types of plants we could buy which will help save on our water bill. There were paths in the garden to see what types of greenery could survive in this area. They also had a very interactive kids game which provided information on the environment and sustainability.
The entrance and parking were free yet the latter was a bit challenging. As you’re driving on Iwaena, find the first parking space available because there is only street parking.
During the year, they do offer workshops with a minimum charge. In December, they are sponsoring a holiday wreath-​making workshop.
Save some money and water! Go xeriscape!

8.3.13.
Literally a hidden gem of nature-​y goodness.
I didn’t even know that there was anything this far in the Valley… def a beautiful place to get away from the real world – thanks BWS! Unfortunately I was not able to tour some of the gardens or take one of their many offered tours, but hopefully I can soon – their website gives great descriptions & pictures. A coworker strongly suggested the tour of the water tunnel!
I came here over the weekend for a community service event. It was the HXG’s annual Open House & Plant Sale – lots of amazing succulent plants! Sadly, I did not find anything :(It was still a great community event; free mulch (I believe this is year round), kids activities, promoting sustainability & conservation of water… I def want to come back again! Come early for street parking; they don’t have any on the garden premises anymore.
Unilocal 365 Challenge: #214/​365

Nestled above the Halawa Valley Industrial District, the Halawa Xeriscape Garden is a quaint botanical garden aimed at demonstrating «unthirsty» and native plants. From bromeliads to hibiscus, Koa trees to Kou plants, desert roses to bougainvillea — the garden showcases a variety of native and unthisty plants that require minimal watering to thrive. The Board claims that xeriscape techniques — which include using unthirsty plants, efficient irrigation, mulching, etc. — can save customers 30−80% in outdoor water consumption. These are some money saving plants!
The Board and the Friends of Halawa Xeriscape Garden also offer periodic gardening workshops and fun keiki activities. They have fostered partnerships with the Pearl City Urban Garden Center, UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and other organizations to host educational workshops pertaining to composting, spiral gardening, wreath decorating and much more. A schedule of workshops is available on their website,
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Additionally, visitors can pick up free mulch every Saturday! Just sign in at the office, bring your own shovels and containers and you can take as much as you can carry! Very cool.
Lastly, the Board hosts an annual open house and plant sale on the first Saturday of August. The event is huge and is always a great time.
The garden is owned and operated by the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and is currently open to the public on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You may call the Board at 748‑5000 or visit
for more information.

Halawa Xeriscape Garden is run by the Board of Water Supply. They have a plant sale once a year which is coming up in August, in which they sell what they call «unthirsty plants» which means that they do not need much water to survive so you hopefully decrease your water bill by planting these plants and reduce the time spent towards garden maintenance and care. I just attended a very thorough workshop that teach you almost everything you need to know about bugs but were afraid to ask. It kind of takes the fun out of gardening when you think about all the pest you have to fight off to grow your own organic veggies and herbs. The workshops average about $ 5 bucks. On the fun side they have an upcoming workshop that is called «pumpkin planting» for the keiki. Sign up starts on June 21^st. The workshops are staffed by Master Gardeners… which means they know a lot about plants :) and they offer free garden mulch to the public on saturdays.