Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens

I am definitely putting this place on a «must» list for people visiting Oahu cause the views were amazing!
Pros:
— Free, easy parking
— You can bring bread to feed to birds and fish at the lake. I have actually never been someplace where they encourage feeding animals bread as I thought it interfered with their diet (I usually only see lettuce and celery sticks allowed) but I know nothing about normal diets of animals in Hawaii
— If gardens aren’t typically your thing, the first area by the visitor center has informative cards about plants that are used in everyday products like rubber and acai
— Like all other Hawaii botanical gardens, it’s free :)
— There are not a lot of people here in general (at least on MLK day) so it’s a good chance to be away from more touristy areas
— The number one pro is the amazing view if you walk along the back of the lake near the dam. I took a pic to send to my friends and they all accused me of photoshopping it. It looks like Jurassic Park here, almost like a pack of raptors were going to jump out and eat me.
Cons:
— If you’re a tourist like me, it’s sort of hard to know where the trail is when there isn’t one and it’s all grass. I do like walking in grass but I came with my parents who kept asking if we were going the right way. Thank goodness there were lots of locals walking around so I could just follow them
— The website and signs warn you and now I am too, but mosquitoes! I thought I put on enough bug spray. I did not. My mom said another mom saw my swollen, bite covered legs as we were exiting and started spraying her two young children like crazy lol
Despite those two cons, if you don’t want to do a bug hike but still want beautiful views, this is a great place. I was going to book a tour at Kualoa ranch but decided seeing this view was enough

Really gorgeous to drive through.
If you’re interested in a look at the flora of Oahu, this place will serve you well. You’ll get great photos of lush greenery and pineapples on the stem. It’s places like this that make digital cameras so great – take your time composing shots of intertwined branches and stalks with a background of green peaks above. Now that I don’t have to worry about film capacity and cost (like I did when I last visited Hawaii in 1988), I can just click with wild abandon and sort it out later.
If you’re taking the footpaths, watch for mud.

Beautiful place. The lake was especially fun for my one year old who really enjoyed feeding the ducks, and following them around of course. I will definitely be going back but with a whole loaf of bread, not just a few slices!
There is also ample parking, multiple restrooms, and a helpful visitors center.

The Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden (approximately 400 acres) is a botanical garden located at 45 – 680 Luluku Road, Kāné’ohe, Oahu, Hawaii. It is part of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens, and is open daily, without charge, except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
The garden was established in 1982, and designed and built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for flood protection. It is a rainforest garden, with plantings from major tropical regions around the world, grouped into distinct collections that focus on Africa, Hawaii, India and Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Melanesia, the Philippines, Polynesia, and the tropical New World. Special emphasis is placed on conserving plants native to Hawaii and Polynesia, as well as arecaceae, aroids, and heliconias.
The garden includes a lake (32 acres) and walking trails, as well as a day use area, campgrounds, and a visitor center with lecture room, exhibition hall, workshop, and botanical library.
Wikipedia
The first stop driving in is the restroom/​gift shop/​information center. This Botanical Gardens is so vast you literally have to drive through it and stop at each separate point. We did just that.
Halfway through our self guided tour, it started to rain. There is nothing like the rain you get in Hawaii, it smells so clean and fresh, straight from the heavens above. Of course we had to walk through it, felt so nice!
The map is very handy and outlines the whole park. Almost every stopping point has a restroom, picnic area and a few with camping areas. This would be a lovely place to camp out and sit back and view the stars at night. The very last stopping point dead ended next to a small enclosed power station. There is so much to see here you could probably come back at least a dozen times and see something new you missed on the previous trip.
So wonderful to see such dedication and care for the numerous plant varieties that thrive in this setting. It gives me hope for the future.

To bring:
Bread (for the fish and ducks)
Bug spray
Sunscreen
I’m sad I only discovered this place now. Hoomaluhia is beautiful and well maintained. After parking in the main visitor lot, walk towards the informational center and exhibit area. This is a good stop for restrooms, more education, sunscreen and bug spray application, etc.
We picked up a map but the map seemed to encompass the entire grounds, which are huge and didn’t lend itself well to finding the nearby lake where the fish are.
Once on the zigzag path downhill, we found our way to the lake, where there were hundreds of hungry fish waiting. Don’t forget to bring bread for the fish and ducks! I believe on Saturdays and Sundays you can borrow a pole and catch and release the fish.
Tons of space for playing and exploring for little and big ones alike! There are several picnic tables available and a few bathrooms as well. I’m not sure what the crowd is like on the weekends as I went on a Friday (that was a holiday) and it wasn’t too bad.
It was an easy drive to get here and not hard to find. Ample parking available and I believe I saw an overflow lot as well.

I had no idea about this place… but last year when there was a special ceremony for my friend (who passed away unexpectedly), I wasn’t able to make the ceremony, but a few weeks later, one of my good friends took me to this park so I could pay my respects to my friend.
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens is located in the Kaneohe area… the best way I remembered getting there was my friend driving me up the road to the side where the «Joyce & Masa Okazuya» business was. As we headed up the valley, suddenly there was a park entrance. I swear, if my friend didn’t take me here… I don’t think I could have found this place.
This special park is actually a City & County park… and I must say it is maintained really well! A very beautiful park hidden in the Kaneohe neighborhood. There are hiking trails, camp sites (you need to get a permit), picnic tables, numerous types of exotic plants, and a large pond with fish.
Before we headed out to this park, we stopped by Joyce & Masa’s to pick up some food, and as we headed into the park, we found the special spot where they held a special ceremony for my friend. We found a bench, sat down, & had lunch to honor my departed friend.
It was so peaceful here… and as I ate, I could not help but think about the good times we had together…
What a great place to visit… and there is no charge to get into the park too! What a deal!

I had no idea that such a huge, beautiful park lies minutes from my house. And for a City and County-​managed facility, it’s maintained very well.
The park can be easily accessed from all major roads on the windward side. Off Likelike, turn right on Anoi Road, right on Luluku Road. Off Kam Highway, turn mauka onto Luluku Road (near Aloha Gas/​Island Mini Mart). The park is at the end of Luluku Road.
The park itself is gigantic. 400 acres of rainforest trees and shrubs from the tropics of the world. In addition, there is also a lake with fish and ducks, hiking trails, picnic tables, and camp grounds.
I’d guess that the most popular attraction at this park is the lake. The lake is accessible from the visitor center (which is the first thing you encounter after the main gate). Just follow the signs to the Lake or ask someone at the visitor center. The path starts as concrete, then turns to gravel, and then grass, so wear appropriate footwear and be prepared to walk on uneven terrain. If you have a stroller, make sure it has good wheels. Bring a large picnic blanket, sunscreen, rain gear, insect repellent, snacks or bentos, and bread to feed the fish and ducks. And don’t forget your camera, as the views are majestic.
Please adhere to the 15 mph speed limit — there are a lot of pedestrians that walk on the road.
Pets, alcohol and ball playing are not permitted.
Free guided garden tours are Saturdays at 10 am and Sundays at 1pm. Camping available by permit only.
Open 9 – 4 daily, closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
FREE admission!