KCC Cactus Garden

After you’re done conquering Diamond Head, head down just 5 – 10 minutes down the road to the Kapi’olani Community College Cactus Garden, an unusual collection of cacti. The garden is not very large, but it contains specimens you won’t see anywhere else, so brave the heat, bring the camera and enjoy some of Hawaii’s most exotic flora.

Peaceful, serene, and pokey come to mind when I think of a cactus garden and this garden delivers! A variety of cacti are available for your viewing pleasure and the best part is that it’s free! If you’re in need of cacti, clippings can be obtained by following directions on nearby signs.
Parking is usually readily available during off-​peak times. A definite must visit if you want some place peaceful. The occasional mongoose, bird, and cat come out sometimes.

Who knew there was a cactus garden at KCC? Certainly not me. If anything, it was a surprising find! I don’t know a lot about cactus (cactuses? cacti?) or botany for that matter, but it was cool to observe and examine the mishmash of greenery. Next time you’re in the area, stop by and visit this delightful garden!

Unilocal 365 CHALLENGE 2014−(136÷365) «Nopales»
Of all my years attending KCC (’89-’91) I never noticed this cactus garden until now?!
all kinds of varieties I have never seen in my life. Many beautiful varieties and even some dangerous looking ones too!
Created by Moriso Teraoka in 1988, it is truly a labor of love and definitely a sight to see. If you are in the area, or at the farmer’s market on Saturday, come check it out! ALOHA!!!
Shaka Meter: \uuu/​\uuu/​\uuu/​\uuu/​\uuu/​5

To my knowledge this is the only cactus garden on the island. Well the only cactus garden worth visiting if your a big fan of cactus gardens.
There are so many different types of cactuses, many that give bloom to beautiful flowers, many with hair, any with no spines. All shapes and sizes. If your looking to do something unique while here I recommend visiting this garden.
The garden is quite big and wraps around a whole section of the college. There are a few wildlife species mongoose, geckos, wild cats and mice.

The Kapiolani Community College Leahi Cactus garden has been there (and still is there today) when I was a student at the school, doing whatever before eventually moving on to the University of Hawaii-​Manoa way back in the year 1997 – 2000. With that said, the Catcus garden has largely been a labor of love from the get go and remains as such. The garden was created by Moriso Teraoka in 1988. He’s still there most days and there are many volunteers who help him maintain the garden. He is proud of what he has accomplished and I happened to wander around here on one of my many runs through the neighborhood community and stopped to admire this garden — something I should have done since I am an alma mater of the school, but didn’t till years later.
The Leahi Cactus Garden is basically across the street from the Kapiolani Community College campus, pretty much in front of the Diamond Head Crater monument, and directly across the Diamond Head Bark Park on Kilauea Ave and Diamond Head Road. The cactus garden is a nice compliment to the community, so anyone and anyone with an appreciation for nature and the sum of its parts can enjoy. Nature always intrigues me, mind, body and spirit, so any chance to be outside and one with nature is always a plus. Probably why I run way too much, but I digress on that. Anyway, the garden is one of the many beautiful gardens on the eastern side of Oahu that’s easily accessible to get to. Just an easy drive or hike from Waikiki, you can get here anyway if you were going to hike Diamond Head anyway. The garden is basically at the entrance way, but towards your left as you walk up.
It’s definitely recommended if you are a lover of nature and just need that time to de-​stress. It’s always a great thing to just walk around this cactus garden and see life through nature’s eyes. Much like going to the beach and just staring at the ocean’s waves or hiking in the wilderness. The cactus garden here at Kapiolani Community College can give you the exact same sentiment, but in a different light. You probably would need to wear covered shoes and dress appropriately for the warm temperatures year round. Be aware of your own surroundings. As much as possible, do not use slippers /​flip-​flops. Bring water with you, as most people would want to hike Diamond Head anyway, since you’re there. Admire the cactus garden after the hike for a refreshing reward for a job well done.
Some of the cactus planted here are amazing. It makes me smile at something so beautiful, it can be deadly at the same time. It makes you think of how the world is.
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In the summer of 1988, 100^th Infantry Battalion/​442^nd RCT member and retiree Moriso Teraoka gets permission to landscape a small area on the campus of Kapiolani Community College. He creates a cactus and succulent garden that he labors in 7 days a week. Over the years, Moriso and a host of volunteers are able to expand the garden. Over twenty years later, Moriso’s garden wins the Outdoor Circle Beautification Award in 1990 and 1998.. .and the 88-​year old Moriso is still working in the garden 6 days a week.
Hands down, the most beautiful and oldest cactus garden on the island. I love taking walks through the garden to look at the amazing variety of plants. Examining them close up reveals the most amazing patterns and textures.
Tip: Moriso created a «Poet-​tree» at the top of the garden. He loves it when visitors to the garden write a poem that he can laminate and hang on his growing poet-​tree (a tree he created out of branches with numerous poems hanging from it).