Your TL;DR Guide to Exploring Oahu’s Windward Side
TL;DR: Located on the eastern side of the Island, the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden reminds me of a regional park. Ideal for those in search of a leisurely day surrounded by vast greenery, this botanical garden is over 400 acres of plants from various regions around the world. And best of all, it’s free.
- What Makes Ho’Omaluhia Worth It?
- The Logistics
- Navigating the Garden
- Tips to Enjoy Your Trip
- Explore More on Oahu
Recently, I talked about a few places people should visit on their first trip to the Island of Oahu. In that post, I mentioned that windward (the eastern side) is one of my favorite parts – and Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden really exemplifies some of what I love.
Dubbed a “peaceful refuge” in the community of Kāneʻohe, the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden is one of Oahu’s most pinterest-ed locations. Nestled in the middle of a suburban neighborhood, the garden is fairly unassuming until you enter the gates and are greeted by utterly gorgeous views. It’s both simple and stunning – the perfect (free) spot to visit while exploring Oahu.
Related: Exploring the Kāneʻohe Sandbar
Not sure what I mean? Read on for my take on this little windward escape (and for some snaps while I was out adventuring)!
What Makes Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden Worth It?
Located at the foot of the Koolau Mountain Range, the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden is a vast 400 acres of lush greenery, cool waters, and vibrant ecodiversity.
Built in 1982 by the U.S. Army Engineer Corps to protect Kāneʻohe from flooding, the garden today features plants from various regions all over the world, including the Philippines, Africa, and, of course, Hawai’i.
In writing up this post, I kept wanting to use the word “park” instead of botanical garden – because that’s really what it reminds me of. Perfect for those in search of a relaxing day in nature, this garden is made up of smaller gardens/stops that you can drive (or walk) to and explore.
The Logistics
At a Glance
Address: 45-680 Luluku Rd, Kaneohe, HI 96744
Hours: 9AM-4PM Daily (closed Christmas and New Year’s Day)
Tickets: Free, no reservations needed
Navigating the Garden
The Different Lots
There is one main road that links the entire garden. After driving through the neighborhood, we made our way to the front gate where we were greeted by the guard.
Cars are able to drive from the entrance to the end of the garden road fairly easily, turn around and check out the various different garden sections. There are around 10 or so different parking lots/spots that lead to various trails and feature plants from a different part of the world.
I highly suggest stopping at the first parking lot where you can find the visitor center, find bathrooms (restrooms are located at several of the parking lots) and get some gorgeous photos at the base of the mountains.
In fact, many of the photos included in today’s blog post featuring the misty mountaintops were taken in this area. From here, you can also take a little walk to the lake – just be prepared in case of mud. I was sliding all over the place during my last venture to the garden because I only packed my sandals!
What to do in the Garden
Most travelers will be driving, but you will see some of the locals that live nearby walking through the park.
Whether you want to choose your own adventure or join in on something a little more structured, the botanical garden has a few options for you!
- Photography/Exploring – My personal favorite way to check out the park – especially for first-time visitors. Bring some comfortable shoes, water, and your cameras/phones for a lovely walk around the garden. The garden also put together a list of birds in the area to give you a few more things to keep an eye out for.
- Fishing (perfect for families with kiddos) – During certain times of the year/week, the lake is open to cast-and-release fishing. The park provides bamboo poles and hooks on a first-come, first-serve basis. On the website, it looks like this isn’t available at the moment, but you can always call 808-233-7323 for more information. I also recommend taking a look at the site here as you plan for your trip.
- Painting Classes – Every Tuesday from 9:30am-12:30pm the garden offers art classes (drawing or painting) that anyone can join in on – but you must bring your own art gear. Like fishing, go ahead and call 808-233-7323 to reserve your spot.
- Camping – For a fairly cheap fee, it’s also easy to reserve a campsite within the garden (from Friday to Monday). If you’re interested in camping here – or elsewhere on the island – check out Oahu’s campsite reservation process here.
Tips to Enjoy Your Trip
A note for photographers
Ho’omaluhia can be incredibly humid, with thick air full of moisture. For context, the minute I stepped out of the car to start photographing the landscape, my lens immediately fogged over. Check out the photo below: while it did rain later in the day here, what you are seeing is hot, muggy fog and low cloud coverage.
Things like changing your lens or protecting your equipment become extremely important in air like this. And because you’re not necessarily located near something like a waterfall, the bright sky can be misleading.
So, be sure to weather prep your camera, carry a microfiber cloth to clean your lens, and bring a waterproof bag with you. I also caution folks from changing their lens outdoors (use your car, for example) to avoid exposing the insides of your camera body to the elements.
Getting Pinterest-worthy/Instagrammable Photos
I was scrolling through Pinterest the other day (as one does) and my feed was filled with photo after photo of the main road in the botanical garden. That alone should tell you what *the* shot of Ho’omaluhia is.
Not to be a spoil-sport (but also, to totally be one) that’s a photo they actively warn you against taking.
Like I mentioned above, Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden has one main road with a few off shoot parking lots where guests can stop, get out, and explore. For safety reasons and to prevent traffic, visitors are also warned to not stop on the main road.
Now, some other bloggers have reported arriving early enough in the morning that they were able to (safely) get the shot, but I personally would rather skip it – there are a ton of gorgeous places to check out – far away from moving cars.
As you can see from the photo above, you can still get photos of the road without actually needing to be on the road itself. And while I didn’t feature any photos of myself in this post, I was able to get plenty of pics and selfies while out and about. I personally loved the area around the lake, but the first stop (near the welcome center) is also a great spot to grab photos with the mountains in the background.
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens truly is a gorgeous refuge on the eastern side of the Island. Hidden between a residential community and the mountains, this botanical garden is a free wonder for tourists and locals alike. Whether you’re interested in exploring the trails or getting the perfect Instagram photo, this free destination has something for everyone.
What other places on Oahu do you love to visit?
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