Gorgeous, gorgeous! One of our favorite spots we visited on Oahu. And it's FREE! It was a little confusing figuring out how far to keep walking because there weren't any signs to guide you. They do give you a map, though, which we definitely should've paid more attention to. lol. Just keep going all the way to see more gorgeous views and scenery. I had no idea it involved a little hike, so I was hopping over wet spots in my cute dress sandals. It wasn't too bad, but don't be like me, wear some comfortable walking shoes! After the little hike, drive a little farther up for even more beautiful views of the mountain. read more

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I finally got to visit this famous botanical garden. The views are so beautiful. I feel like the walk to the lake and around to the parking lot felt a bit short. I wish it had more of a pathway that was paved to follow, but other than that just being here was an amazing experience. Definitely a photo-worthy visit and it's worth all the hype. I think the other botanical gardens have more paths that are paved to follow, but this one just has breathtaking views with the mountain in the background. read more

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Absolutely breathtaking place to visit while you're in Hawaii. Free for the public, not free from consequences, PLEASE respect the garden, the locals, and the rules when coming! Highly recommend coming as soon as they open, the earlier the better. Parking will be hard to come by once it's been open a few hours. Beautiful scenery to take plenty of pictures of! read more

Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden is a beautiful location to visit. Entrance and parking are free and there is a ton of parking available throughout the garden. You can drive through the garden or park and walk in the paved path. The lake is also very beautiful. read more

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For sure its beautiful there. Warm day with slight breeze. The reason for 3 stars is because several sections were closed off to the public leaving only a few other areas to visit. Very lush and very hilly so if you decide to walk be prepared. Bring water. At the front visitor center there is a 3D map of the gardens with a docent there to help visitors. I have to say she was not very helpful and a bit terse when folks asked questions. She didn't like repeating herself but what the heck everyone is a new visitor never been there before? Anyway we went out on our own and figured it out. Had a good time with taking pictures and seeing the landscape read more

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The Botanical a garden is a beautiful Garden. Lots to see. We came to explore and you can view the garden by foot, or drive through. There's plenty of parking and bathrooms all around the sites. Parking is free. Any information for camping will be located at the visitor center. Some sites are down/closed. Bring a windbreaker the rain does turn on/off. Drive slow, pedestrians are around. They are strict on taking photos on the roads. Please don't do that. We drove through the whole scenic route for about 30 mins. No Hunting and No dogs allowed. read more

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Absolutely GORGEOUS!!! This FREE botanical garden is ginormous and with different areas displaying different plants. Also has the famous road where you can take a video of your drive up the road but cannot stop anymore. I recommend stopping at the first area with visitor center to check out the map and see what spot you want to go to. Pic attached also. There's fishing on weekends as catch and release. There's camping Friday through Monday with online reservations. So much to do!! We stopped at K. Kukui or K. Hau which is further inside and had the best views of the mountain range. We took so many great photos! So beautiful here! This place would be a great spot to picnic and there were restrooms too. At another spot, we even spotted a chameleon in the tree expertly camouflaged it was crazy to see in real life. Can easily spend 2 hours here it's spectacular to walk around and embrace the natural green beauty. read more

Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden - Map at visitor center - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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Beautiful lush gardens with many picture worthy views. Many different trails. Make sure to stop by the visitor center to get the QR code for a map. The lake was beautiful too. read more

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This is free and a great place to stop and take pictures. I had read that you couldn't walk on the main road, but there were people definitely doing that when I went. I believe you just need to park and walk over. The parking inside was full near all the main picture spots and we needed to wait for people to get out. There also isn't a lot of signage inside, we had trouble finding where to get to the lake read more

Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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This is such a beautiful and and huge botanical garden! It is one that you drive through and can stop at many parking areas along the way to explore. Great for families with littles who get tired of walking long distances, and lots of beautiful scenery read more

Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden - Flowering tree - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

so beautiful and lush! whether you live here or are visiting, this is a must stop, plus it's free parking read more

Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

If you are looking for a great place to explore with a baby, add this place to your list. The entrance alone to this botanical garden makes this place worth it to visit. It is so picturesque and something you'd need to just see for yourself. There's a nice stroll that'll lead you to a lake that's filled with fishes. Definitely a great spot to visit for anyone looking for something to do that's baby friendly. read more

Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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This garden is absolutely beautiful, tranquil, peaceful, and did I mention free? When we visited a few years ago during May 2019, it was nearly empty. You could easily drive to the designated parking areas and stroll around at your own pace. The scenery is stunning, with mountains in the background, a lake, koi ponds, ducks, and plenty of picnic tables. We returned January 2026, we came better prepared and brought a picnic lunch from Adela's. It was so nice to just sit back, enjoy the view, and savor our food. I didn't have any issues during our last visit, but this time I did get a few mosquito bites on my legs, so definitely bring some bug spray just in case. Every corner of this garden is picturesque. It is a lovely spot to relax unwind, and enjoy the view. read more

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We made a stop here and it is absolutely beautiful! The gardens are lush and green and huge. The first stop on the drive has the information building, bathroom, and several picnic tables. The staff there are so friendly and welcoming. They told us which stops to visit for the best pictures. There are several stops along the road that you drive up. The road can get a little narrow so drive slow. There are also people walking on the road too so be mindful. Each stop has parking space and tables. The very last stop is the best. The views are amazing!! We stopped and took lots of pictures and saw many people just hanging out. After your down you drive down the same road since it's one way in, one way out. read more

Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden - Lunch at the first stop - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

We had Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden on our list and it is HUGE! Our GPS originally took us to what we think was an old entrance, but it was a quick backtrack to go up the correct way. It's free to enter and there's a welcome center and area with a pond at the beginning. You can check out the map and decide where you 'd like to go and if you want to park and walk or take your car to the different areas. We started by driving closer to areas and then walking and realized that some areas were more fun to look around in than others because of the different plants, vegetation, and scenery. There are a couple lookout points which are worth stopping and taking the climb/walk for but most of it you can drive through and enjoy. Throughout the gardens there are restrooms, picnic spots, and parking. Definitely worth a drive through when you're in the area. read more

Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden encompasses 650 acres and its five botanical gardens display plants from Hawaii as well as around the world. It's free to enter and has nicely paved roads throughout. You might recognize this garden on social media because of the famous long road with lush greenery and mountains in the background. This road is at the entrance but they have signs telling you not to stop on the road to take pictures or videos. However, you'll see similar roads and scenery throughout the garden so you can get similar views throughout your time here. There are many parking lots and restrooms throughout the garden where you can park and take pictures. There's also a nice lake in the middle of the garden. Although you can't stop in the middle of the road, you can take great pictures and videos if you can find the right spots. This is a must-do spot if you're in Oahu and worth renting a car to come here. read more

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This garden is extremely beautiful and looks like it's straight out of a movie! The entrance way is iconic so def enjoyed viewing the scenery when we drove in. They don't allow you to stop or get out of your cars to take pictures where the entrance way is so be cautious. They do have cops surveillance if you do try to take pictures; mainly bc they want to preserve the garden from guests possibly destroying it. Currently, they close on Thursdays so make sure you look at their hours closely! Entrance is free and if you keep driving, there is a free parking lot for guests. Guest service also has bathrooms, a mini exhibit of plants, and pamphlets for you to view each of the gardens. We didn't have time to visit all of garden but got to see the pretty main garden so that was nice! They have a few bench tables too so you could probably bring food and eat outside. Def recommend visiting if you're in Kaneohe area. read more

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Spend time here now because the storm (3/2026) and resulting flooding kept it closed. The area around the lake will be closed for awhile. The weather didn't diminish the beauty & available photo ops. Great views of the clouds coming across the mountain. Since was the last thing we did before our flight home the camera gear was packed. We were limited to phones, but managed great pics anyway. There are a lot of scenic vistas on Oahu, this one ranks with the best. Check their website for status before going. read more

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Some pretty views, lots of areas roped off. Mainly for those who want to hike the trails. read more

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Absolutely breathtaking! This was my first time visiting Hawaii -- I came for a collaboration and stopped by Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden during the last leg of our trip in Oahu. The drive in alone was stunning, with palm trees swaying and mountain views that felt straight out of a movie. It was a hot, humid Sunday, but the weather cooled down in the afternoon right as we arrived -- perfect timing! The garden is so peaceful and lush, with incredible views everywhere you turn. Definitely a must-visit spot if you're in Oahu, whether you're into nature, photography, or just want to soak in the island beauty. read more

You know, Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden is a good example of both the positive and negative impacts that social media can have. Positive because, if not for all of the folks posting photos of themselves posing on the road leading in and out of here, folks like me might not have ever known that this place even existed, let alone how great it is. On the other hand, if all of those folks hadn't blocked the road to take said photos, maybe all of those signs about not stopping never would've been posted, thus, some of us could've snagged a photo or two! Ha! In all seriousness, though, this place is such a pretty and peaceful space to pass through. As soon as you drive through the security gate, you're immediately met by a gorgeous view of a tree lined road that appears to lead up to the mountains (this is the shot and backdrop everyone posts photos of). As you continue down the road, you'll end up passing by a visitor center and several parking lots along the way for a couple of the campgrounds and areas that you can walk around at. At the very end of the road, you'll find the third, and possibly the largest, campground as well as an open space with terrific views of the mountains and Kaneohe If you have the time for it, making your way through the entirety of the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden is worth it, but if you're short on time, you actually don't have to go further than the visitors center. Besides the educational materials you can peruse through, you'll also find a path that will take you past a mix of flora and fauna and down to this big, serene pond/lake. Along the water, you'll see a variety of ducks and birds and potentially some of the fish. There are also a couple of lookout spots and benches that offer a better vantage point and places to sit and enjoy the view. Even though it may not have majestic views of the ocean or a distinct, floral garden to walk through, Ho'onmaluhia Botanical Garden is well worth visiting if you have a car to get out here. With such a large green space nestled what feels like at the food of the mountain range, it feels so tranquil here and a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of some of the more touristy parts of the island. Plus, the best part about this place is that admission is FREE! Can't get much better than that! read more

Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden - The view from Nui Pavilion by the Kahua Nui-Makai (Ho'omaluhia) Campsite - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

I love botanical gardens so of course I had to check out the t Hoomaluhia botanical garden! I got here right before it opened, and was confused why the cars ahead of me had stopped. It turns out they don't open the gate for cars until 9am, so you just have to wait. And that area is just a residential area, so it's a bit unfortunate for them, with a constant line of cars in the morning and so many people passing through. Once in the botanical garden, you really can just drive around so much and pull over into a parking lot when you want to stop and take a stroll. There's a visitor's center near the entrance of the park with some information, and I would recommend stopping there, but also driving around inside. It's so beautiful and luscious in the botanical garden. Would definitely come back! Entry is free. read more

If we had more time in the day, we definitely would have spent hours just walking and driving around Hoomaluhia Batonical Garden. It was so peaceful, relaxing, and a breath of fresh air. We took a lot of pictures and videos just because it was so beautiful. By the way, have I mentioned that it's FREE to go in?! Amazing. read more

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Hoomaluhai Botanical Garden was absolutely beautiful -- one of the many highlights of my Hawaii trip :') The views at this botanical garden was absolutely stunning -- super green and peaceful. We visited the lake which had lots of koi fish and duckies, and walked around the garden and enjoyed the view. The sun was in and out while we were there -- luckily no rain (a lot of fellow yelpers said there was rain hehe) We stayed for less than an hour and got to enjoy this beautiful Hawaii landmark. I'll be back during my next visit. read more

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Ho'omaluhia Garden is so beautiful and spacious. You can drive or step out and walk in many areas.  The amazing Ko'olau Range is so close amidst trees, grass, lake,...    The paths are very nice. There are signs on various trees stating what they are. I was surprised to see so many fruit trees that I only know from, well from ordering food! An Acai bowl, pandan pastry, etc. and there they were growing. (Yes, I'm a city girl) read more

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Yes, this is a most beautiful place but did you know they host classes, such as meditation, painting and lei making? I like to come out the Friday before Memorial Day to make lei for veteran tombstones. Check out the classes on Honolulu Dept Parks & Recreation website! Most classes are free or low cost. Just another reason why #luckywelivehawaii read more

Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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Beautiful area. Not a traditional botanical garden like we're used to -- no arboretum. Rather this is pretty much all outdoors. The main road is quite long with parking lots throughout depending on where you want to go, what you want to see, what hikes you'd like to do. Many of the trees have labels on them with names and brief explanations. There is an education center at the start but it is small. The hikes/walks can get muddy but not too bad today (was a bit misty and foggy and has been raining a bit recently). And there are restrooms at every parking area. read more

If you are travelling by private vehicle, Byodo-In Temple is 15 minutes away. If you visit the gardens, I would include the temple as part of your day trip. Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens is first, and foremost, a flood control project. It was designed, built and is maintained by the US Army Corp of Engineers. I mention this because you will occasionally see signs asking you to stay out of, or refrain from taking photos in, certain areas. (I'm just saying). The rainforest garden has plants from major tropical regions around the world. It also has a lake and walking trail. From the visitor center towards the lake, the trail has a downhill grade. The first third of the trail is a serpentine concrete walkway. Afterwards, the trail is hardpack soil + aggregate mix. I would rate the walk as "easy" for most people who do not have mobility issues. Towards the lake, there is a pavilion with picnic tables. There are a fewer picnic tables and benches near the lake. The lake has a lot of koi. Frankly, if you are looking for a botanic garden which curates and labels a lot of individual plant specimens, there are other botanic gardens on the island that do a better job. However, this garden does provide a nice park experience; and the ambiance of a tropical paradise. (And this is first, and foremost, a flood control project.) read more

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Love coming here for it's peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. The weather was sunny and clear on the day that we visited. We actually brought our lunches here. It was the perfect scenery. We walked to the lake which was full of koi fish. We went further into the garden which happened to be campsites. We lit to park and just walk at different sections of the garden. You will see many people take pictures for their wedding or special occasion Bathrooms are available and easily accessible. Park closes at 4pm. read more

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We visited over Thanksgiving and were thrilled to see it was open. I'd recommend a vehicle because the heat/sun and walk between each section can be a lot. The first and last spots were our favorites with the view of the pond and mountains and then a different vantage point of the mountains. This was serene and well worth the time. read more

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The tour was amazing. I walked barefoot at the whole time and connected to my surroundings. It was peaceful, even though it was crowded. I completely enjoyed. read more

Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden - Main entrance - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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This botanical garden was ok; free admission. We did the walk from the visitor center down to the lake.. not as spectacular as I expected. Very busy- few different areas to park. A little bit of downhill/ uphill. read more

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Beautiful place..friendly staff. Worth a spot and parking is free, which makes is nice. Pack lunch and blanket to lie on and bring the bug spray. Explore and delight in the expansive park! read more

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I expected more for a botanical garden. We walked to the lake and felt it was a bit underwhelmed. There wasn't much to look at. A lot of greenery but nothing special that caught my attention. Some trails were muddy so I would recommend wearing a pair of shoes you don't mind getting mud on. There is a small education center next to the parking lot. There are also restrooms and portable potty to use. read more

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One of our favorite botanical garden to visit when we are on O'ahu. It is a lush, peaceful retreat nestled at the base of the Koʻolau Mountains in Kaneohe. It features tropical plants from around the world, scenic walking paths, and a tranquil lake overjoyed with koi fishes. The dramatic mountain backdrop makes it a favorite spot for photos and quiet reflection. Whether you're a nature lover, photographer, or just seeking a calm escape from the city, Hoomaluhia offers a truly serene and breathtaking experience. Light crowd not overwhelming full of people. The best part, it's free to enter! read more

Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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Most peaceful scenic drive with breathtaking mountain views, tropical gardens, and cooler temperatures. Plus, it's free admission. Very straightforward road. I stopped at the Botanical Garden Lake, where I spotted a Mongoose. They're like Hawaiian squirrels with a slender and longer body than the fatty squirrels I have back home. Lots of public restrooms are available near the parking lots. Too bad I didn't take any pictures since I was too distracted by the greenery. It was quiet and serene, away from the tourists. They close early at 4 pm, so come at 2 pm to complete the tour. read more

Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden - Flowers from the garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

This botanical garden is an ideal spot for weddings, photography, relaxation, picnics, and simply enjoying the mountains and surrounding vegetation. Despite being a tourist attraction, it's not overcrowded, and the people are very friendly. However, it closes quite early, around 4 o'clock. The downside is that it could be dangerous for pedestrians because of drivers trying to take pictures while driving, even though there are signs warning against it. Apart from that, it's a perfect place to relax and enjoy the views away from the water. It's one of my favorite places to visit on weekdays, as I imagine weekends are crowded. If you visit every so often, you should definitely check this place out; you will not be disappointed. read more

I LOVE THIS GARDEN! It's a gorgeous beautiful place to get away clear your mind and appreciate God's beauty. The ducks are cute and can be feed if you would like to what really captivated me was how green it is heading into this beautiful botanical garden and the pound that is there. Too bad can't go in for a quick dip but it's relaxing and if you would like to have lunch there you can there are tables with benches or bring a blanket and have a picnic. Love it here!!! read more

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Pictures do not do this garden justice. So beautiful and breathtaking. It's free to get in. Check in at the visitors center, get the map and start your adventure. You can start off by walking to the lake which is about a 10-15 walk, takes lots of photos along the way. Once you are done there you get back into your car and start your drive. You can stop at each one and walk or none and just drive. Either way you can enjoy the gorgeous views. read more

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It's beautiful and peaceful here. It was a nice break from white sandy beaches and the bustling city life of Waikīkī. Since it's still summer, there were not a lot of flowering plants, but I imagine that the spring time would be an ideal time to visit after the rainy season. It's definitely a nice walk and a good way to spend time in nature. read more

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