Ho’omaluhia is a breathtaking botanical garden located in the heart of Kaneohe. Our first time there, we were surprised that we had never noticed such a large, serene garden before. Once we turned onto the road to the garden, we were amazed by the view of the Ko’olau mountain range in front of us. We drove a good length of the road to see the various sections of the garden and to check out the campsites. After realizing there was no way for us to explore the entire park in a day, we turned around and parked at the visitor center to get some information about the garden and its layout.
At the visitor center we read about the birds and fish that can be found at Ho’omaluhia. There were some displays that touched on Hawaiian culture, and maps to help plan our visit. After stopping off at the bathrooms, we walked down the meandering path that leads to the pond. The paved section of the trail is surrounded by plants and trees, and we spent several minutes reading the tiny plaques describing them.
When the paved trail ended, we could see the pond up ahead. We passed by pavilions and large trees, and saw signs for side trails we planned to explore at a later date. we At the pond we were flocked by the ducks and geese that are used to being fed by the visitors. Even the fish saw us from the water and started swimming in our direction.
We spent much more time than we expected exploring the grounds around the pond. Our toddler enjoyed throwing rocks in the stream and collecting leaves while the baby slept peacefully in the carrier. We plan to go back and explore more of the garden, and to camp during the weekend. The garden is so large, I don’t think we could ever see all of it.
Ho’omaluhia hosts plants from multiple tropical regions, and the plants are grouped geographically. Camping is available on the weekends, but the garden is open daily. Ho’omaluhia is fantastic for visitors of every age. The main paths are very mellow, but there are side trails for those who don’t mind getting muddy. I truly don’t think one could have a bad experience here.
Ho’omaluhia is free to visit and is located in Kaneohe at 45-680 Luluku Rd. There are signs to direct you in the adjoining neighborhood. I highly recommend stopping by the visitor center to learn about native Hawaiian birds and plants, as well as the programs and events offered at Ho’omaluhia. We saw multiple native Hawaiian birds, including the endangered Hawaiian Coot.
To learn more about Ho’omaluhia, visit the Friends of Honolulu Botanical Gardens webpage.
The Voyaging 4 