I've visited dozens of botanical gardens through the years so I have a pretty good point of comparison. I would call Kula more of a nature walk with lots of native vegetation and a few stand-out flower plantings. It was a small, pleasant stroll but nothing extraordinary, exotic, or picturesque enough to highly recommend. Both my husband and I did truly appreciate the little dove rescue sanctuary and glad to contribute to this with our entry fees. If you're looking for something to fill some time on a cloudy, non pool/beach day I'd say it's an okay place to spend an hour or so. I wouldn't suggest going out of your way otherwise. read more

Kula Botanical Gardens - Parks Near Me - Kula, Hawaii

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This is a simple botanical garden. No bells and whistles, just a nice, quiet place to walk and enjoy the plants, flowers, and koi pond. There's a very small gift shop, and parking was a bit tricky (very small lot). I could have sat at the koi pond all day feeding fish, very relaxing. Take your time walking or else you'll speed through it in no time. read more

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After checking out of our hotel, we needed to kill some time before our red-eye flight out of Maui, so we decided to visit Kula Botanical Garden. Honestly, it felt a bit overpriced at $15 per person for what it offers. The garden is quite small, with not much to see, and we were able to walk through the entire place in about 45 minutes. Ironically, the most interesting thing we saw was a chameleon in a cage near the entrance, not the flowers or plants themselves. The cashier was friendly and provided us with a map and a quick overview of the grounds, which we appreciated. Overall, we weren't impressed and wouldn't go out of our way to visit again. read more

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We loved the scenery and variety of plants that we have not seen before. The staff were very friendly and helpful, the pathways are easy to navigate and well marked. While this is a self-tour there are variety of directions to go. We were here in mid-January so I am not sure we were at peak blooming time for all the flowers,, but there was a lot to see. Most definitely a place we will come back to. read more

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Beautiful property with breathtaking views. A great way to escape the heat or overly crowded shops, and enjoy a peaceful ponder around the garden. read more

Kula Botanical Gardens - Gorgeous view. - Parks Near Me - Kula, Hawaii

Not a well known botanical garden in Maui. Came here in January 2024 after seeing the Haleakala crater, as it was nearby. 3600 feet, and cool compared to sites at sea level. Limited free paved parking lot. You wouldn't want to park on the street, as it is a lengthy steep uphill climb upwards to reach the botanic garden, risking becoming road kill. $10 entrance fee, with 8 acres of orchids, bromelaids, proteas, and native Hawaiian plants. Tropical flowers not only from Hawaii , but from the far reaches of the world, like China, South Africa, Australia, India, and Indonesia. Colorful flora. Includes a small waterfall in a stream, bird sanctuary and a Koi Pond with plenty of fish. Garden is well maintained, plants trimmed, leaves racked, pathways swept. Paved pathways curve in and out of the small garden. Place opened up in 1971 and survived many hurricanes and numerous tropical storms. A December 2021 storm wiped out half of the garden. The garden was closed until March 2022, after 200 dump trucks hauled away 3000 tons of debris. The Koi pond and bird sanctuary had to be rebuilt. Place has restrooms, small cafe, and gift shop. No waiting for the restroom, as few visitors. Just found out I could have visited the Lavender Farm of 13.5 acres nearby for only $3, plus $5 parking, but overrun with tourists, and a likely long wait for the restroom. read more

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Nice gardens. $15 entry fee. Wonderful gift shop with local artisans. Helpful staff. Plenty of parking.

Without another comparison, I would probably be more impressed, but this botanical garden does not hold a candle to Ali'i Lavender Farm. Sorry! read more

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Got to enjoy the beauty of natural Island plants and pathways are stroller friendly. If you love plants then this is a fun thing to do esp with your babies.Although, entrance fee is a bit on the pricey side. read more

I have been following kula botanical gardens for many years on social media and I am so happy to have finally had the chance to visit the beautiful gardens. Located in kula, Maui, Hawaii is kula botanical gardens and a MUST stop on the island. Adult tickets will run you $15 for a whole day pass. I would recommend packing a lunch if it's a sunny day to enjoy while at the gardens. This is a great and accessible attraction to see many native and unique tropical plants. Despite being rainy when we visited, I would still say you should bare the rain for the lovely views. I would recommend a poncho and big repellant of some sort as I was biten up By some mosquitos. read more

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Delicious food, wonderful little train that takes you through the property and fantastic art. It's a must every time we come to the island.

Breathtaking botanical gardens located at Kula, Maui, Hawaii. The views are absolutely beautiful. Take the time to visit the picturesque landscape and native foliage in Hawaii. The possibilities for gorgeous photos are endless here, one of the best gardens I've ever visited, this is a must if you're on the island of Maui. read more

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On a recent day trip to Maui, I wanted to see flowers and spend some time outdoors. I always seek out gardens when traveling, and this seemed worth the trip. It's a quick drive from Kula/Makawao area, further up the mountain. As others have noted, this is a private attraction and collection of plants from around the world. As it is, they have an entrance fee of $10/person, plus a gift shop to raise money to keep it in operation. I felt the cost was worth the visit; you could walk through quickly in just a few minutes, but we meandered slowly and spent about an hour here. Parking is free and easy right at the visitors center. They have seating overlooking the valley below outside, with restrooms, the ticket counter, and lots of Maui-produced goods and souvenirs. You're also given a laminated map to help you explore. The building feels like it hasn't changed much since the 1960s, it has an old vibe. The gardens are organized around a central paved road, with paths leading off on both sides, plus benches and gazebos throughout. Most things are clearly labeled with names and origin of the plants. Many flowers were blooming, so there was lots of colors to enjoy. Their collection is from all over the world, not just Hawaii. The koi pond had been recently repaired after it was damaged by flooding, so it's not yet fully developed. If you're a fan of flowers and the natural world, it's worth a visit. read more

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Kula Botanical Gardens is one of the most peaceful, beautiful places I've experienced on Maui. Tucked high on the slopes of Haleakalā, the gardens feel like a world of their own with cool breezes, vibrant colors everywhere you look, and a calm that you just can't find at the more crowded island attractions. What makes this place truly special is that it's family owned and has been lovingly cared for for over 50 years. You can feel that passion in every corner of the garden. The family has spent decades supporting endangered species, preserving native Hawaiian plants and wildlife, and studying the unique local ecosystem. It's not just a botanical garden; it's a genuine labor of love and an important piece of Maui's environmental story. The grounds themselves are stunning. Meandering paths lead you through orchids, proteas, bromeliads, hydrangeas, hibiscus in every shade, and so many native Hawaiian plants you rarely get to see up close. There are peaceful gazebos, a small waterfall and stream, a delightful bird sanctuary filled with lovebirds and doves, and even a koi pond that feels like a hidden little oasis. After a major storm caused extensive damage a few years ago, the garden was restored with care and dedication. Everything is beautifully maintained, and you can tell how much pride goes into keeping it healthy and thriving. Whether you're coming down from Haleakalā or making a day of exploring Upcountry, don't miss this spot. It's quiet, serene, incredibly photogenic, and a refreshing break from the usual tourist chaos. I always return whenever I visit Maui. This is one of those rare places that stays with you long after you've left. read more

This is a really nice, albeit remote place to visit while on Maui. The gardens are beautiful and the views from the high country are amazing. There is a very nice Koi pond and some great photo opportunities. If you are visiting other places upcountry such as Makawo, add this place to your stop list. Well worth it. It can be a bit cooler that at the beach so please keep that in mind. read more

This is a nature preserve which is family owned. Does not have reciprocal membership with other gardens. Limited parking. Gorgeous display of native Hawaiian plants, ferns, orchids, bottle brush, Lillie's, hydrangeas, hibiscus in every color, birds of paradise, and fake birds of paradise. Very natural with a creek, waterfalls, gazebos, overlook and a cave. They have chameleons and birds. Love birds and doves. There is a koi pond too. We enjoyed listening to the love birds chirping and the doves cooing. read more

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This place is a gem!!!!! We enjoyed our time here!!!! It's super affordable and the person who helps you is a delight. Everything in this garden is beautiful!!!! The gardens has a few parking spots up front and a clean restroom indoor. There's a cute gift shop that we ended up walking out with tons of stuff. Their prices are competitive and they offer a few items that you cannot find in other places. There's a very helpful map to follow. Every little "trunk" has it's beauty. It's definitely a place to visit to fill your soul!!! read more

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This is a fun place to visit with my kids and have a picnic. They have hand drawn maps for us to follow, feeding the fish at the pond is a winner and staff are always friendly. read more

Overpriced and underwhelming. Paid $30 for two tickets to a dull garden that was not kept up in our view. We noticed some dead plants. Staff is unegaged and seem bothered to have guests. There's so many nice places to visit in Maui, this is NOT one of them. read more

Small garden located in the slopes of Haleakala We stopped at the Kula Botanical Gardens before heading to Haleakalā National Park. Making a quick stop here was worth it for us since it was on the way to our destination. From Kihei it was 28-miles (about a 40-min drive). It was a nice quiet crowd on a Tuesday morning after Labor Day (mostly older folks). Admission was $10/person. I love botanical gardens. We paid at the gift shop and we were shown a map of the gardens encompassing 8-acres of land. The trail was easy to follow. The Koi Pond was the first attraction to see but because of the storm that hit Maui in December 2021 it completely destroyed the pond as 15-ft deep of debris covered it. Sadly, it hasn't recovered and was empty at our visit in September 2022. Elsewhere in the garden we saw some colorful and unique plants and amazing rock formations. The garden wasn't as bountiful of flowers at this time as I expected it to be but still pretty and I still managed to take a lot of pictures. Flowers make pretty photo subjects. There is a carved tiki exhibit which was cool also. The covered bridge, waterfalls, pools, aviary attractions were not accessible or just not there. Review #2698 read more

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If you are out and about in the area this is definitely a good place to drop by and spend an hour. A family-owned garden that's well cared for and informative. I learned a lot about the native plants I saw throughout the rest of my trip thanks to the labeling and nicely grouped areas. The garden is uphill so if you have someone in your group with limited mobility it may take a bit of time to stroll around - but there plenty of benches and places to rest. When we went in November 2022 almost everything except the koi pond was fixed up from the landslide. read more

Kula Botanical Gardens - Orchard area - Parks Near Me - Kula, Hawaii

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This was one of my favorite relaxing visit at the foothills of Haleakala. They have beautiful tropical flowers (my wife knows what they are) and as you noticed I took lots of pictures . The garden would have been fully open to the public if not for the recent storms they have that cause some mudslide. In fact it's tragic because they had a koi pond that was wash out. The garden has two sides and areas with theme, but the ones I really enjoy is taking pictures of different , colorful flowers and bees inside getting their juice for honey. I hope they rebuild the areas that has been damage and restore tit like it was with the ponds and koi fish. Again, it's very relaxing to just clear your mind and enjoy the beauty of this side of paradise read more

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This place had some really awesome plants but looks like it needs a little love, it's kinda overgrown and rundown. Small but worth the stop, there were some really cool plants - all labeled - a koi pond, some chameleons and some birds. It was a paved path so doable even in the rain! read more

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My partner and I were driving around the beautiful island and saw the sign from the road, we stopped to find a BEAUTIFUL super quiet garden with an aviary and an orchid section! There's 3 cute lil' kitties that walk the garden, but don't often come up to visitors. Up at the front gate there's even a Jackson's chameleon cage with adorable little friends! You talk to the wonderful and helpful Karine at the front desk to purchase your tickets, and she gives you a cute lil' map to walk the garden and she even has umbrellas incase it gets a little tropical! Such a picture-esk place so be sure to bring your food camera! At the end of the tour you end up back at the shop where there's fudge and gifts to purchase! From cute post cards, candles, and hand carved wooden and bone goodies! Such a great way to spend an afternoon. read more

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We went there and had a fun time looking at the beautiful flowers and plants. The scenery was very nice

Not very much to see. definitely not worth even a dollar and I wouldn't drive out of my way. Looks like all paid reviews

We enjoyed this! I don't recommend making a special trip just for this garden UNLESS you're a huge fan of flowers/plants or are obsessed with chameleons. However if you're in the area or it's a slight detour, I recommend going. The variety of plants/trees/flowers was so lovely to admire. Plan to spend 1.5 hours here, or you can see it in 1 hour if you're in a big rush. There is 1 chameleon in a cage, and then we sighted another wild chameleon living in the garden grounds. It's kind of hard to see them though because they blend in! There were also some ducks and a goose that we saw. The grounds have some elevation changes but are paved. Not wheelchair friendly though because the walkway inclines in some areas look steep enough to be very difficult for a wheelchair to ascend. They recently closed for a couple months due to extensive damage from a storm, but they reopened all but one area (bridge and koi pond area). read more

As other reviews have mentioned this place is still recovering from an enormous landslide that took out its Koi ponds and some other parts of the garden. However, if you're on your way up to Haleakala or just in the area it's well worth the visit. It took us around 30 min to walk through at a leisurely pace. When we came (mid-afternoon) there was only one other party so we had the place to ourselves. There is an excellent Bromeliad collection and lots of wildlife - including a horned chameleon by the entrance. Check it out to support a local business and put a name to all those beautiful plants you keep seeing! Also, pick up some of their coconut-pineapple candy to munch on the drive :) read more

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Such a hidden gem located in kuala and run by a very sweet family . Husband and I enjoyed touring the grounds and taking pictures . Unfortunately the water areas need a lot of work and sadly their famous birds were no longer there but we enjoyed ourselves immensely . read more

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Don't listen to the one star reviewer. This place is AMAZING. The first thing you'll notice when you arrive is just how quiet and peaceful it is. Once inside, it only gets better. The woman at the front desk was very helpful and informative, and the provided map makes sure you don't miss anything. I'd even recommend reading the story on the back of the map. So much to look at at your own pace. Great photo opportunities around every corner. Well worth the drive. A nice break from the hustle and bustle of the coastal attractions. read more

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This botanical garden isn't very botanical anymore. My mom was so excited to bring us here to show us the beautiful garden that she experienced here 2 years ago, but there were no blooming flowers? At all? Not sure if the plants are totally dead or just out of season? It would've been nice if they gave us a warning before we dropped $10 a person for nothing. Spotting a cute little mouse in the bird exhibit was the highlight. I hope they use the $40 we spent today to put a little water in the koi pond. read more

Great gardens and it smelled divine up there! We will go back. Fee only $10 and worth the beautiful drive up to Kula . My only wish is that it was bigger with more plants from all the islands. The educational tour would of been fun but we were short on time. read more

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My 10 year old and I spent over 2.5 hours here. The garden is excellent. We saw wild Jacksons chameleons, chickens, koi and a beautiful manicured garden. I have no idea how some people have rated this garden with a low number of stars. The only thing I can think of is that they rated it right after the massive storms. This place deserves a high rating. It is worth visiting. I have visited a lot of botanical gardens and this one is excellent. read more

Enjoyed our quick trip around the garden. Koi pond could be better maintained. However, the flowers and trees were lovely. Everything was labeled nicely as well. Plenty of places to sit and enjoy the garden views. Definitely worth the $10. read more

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Recommended!! This botanical garden is a very beautiful place featuring many flowers with all kinds of colors. I really enjoyed the view and walking around. The garden is really peaceful. I recommend this place. The price is awesome for Maui vacation. It is only $29 for 5 people including 3 teens and 2 adults. We drove down the road and there were a few local farm shops. The front desk gentleman gave my kids a bracelet each. We bought 2 book marks as souvenirs. It was lovely visit. read more

An absolutely stunningly curated garden of tropical plants around the world. I'd highly recommend visiting this collection to anyone who enjoys botanical collections. Plenty were in bloom, and was a peaceful walk. It is primarily uphill so be ready for that. But we'll worth the $10 entry fee! read more

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We had a very pleasant visit on a cloudy but warm non beach day in May. So many beautiful plants in bloom. The plants are well marked and trails maintained. They are recovering from December 2021 storm damage so the Koi pond not back in action but so nice to see a man/families life's work recovering. The plants are beautiful and the small fee to walk through is worth it. Places to sit, relax, eat a picnic, enjoy nature. Take a look you will be glad you did. All my pictures are on my other camera I will have to try and load later. Take my word they are gorgeous read more

Beautiful and peaceful! So many different beautiful plants to see! We enjoyed walking the paths and spending some quiet time in this beautiful place. read more

Kula Botanical Gardens - Parks Near Me - Kula, Hawaii

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I'm sure at one point this was beautiful, but it is not really worth the time now. Many plants are potted, giving it the look of a nursery in places. Structural features look dated and in need of repair. Unfortunately, there is not water in places where it would really enhance the beauty of the garden, and that is an unfortunate thing that is happening everywhere with precious water. I might be spoiled for gardens on Kuaii and Hawaii, but the negative review here is from all the potted plants. I've never seen that before, or if they were they were at least hidden better. read more

Please don't let all of the comments bashing the empty koi pond dissuade you from visiting this beautiful arboretum. It was unfortunately affected by one of the worst rainstorms in Dec 2021 that caused all of the koi fish to die and flooded a lot of its vegetation. The owners put up a gofundme if anyone would like to aid in getting the koi pond operational again: https://www.gofundme.com/f/kula-botanical-garden-clean-up-restoration Regardless of the koi pond status, this is still a truly magnificent and beautiful arboretum with hundreds of different flower species from around the world. It took my fiancé and I about 45 minutes to see the entire arboretum. We first visited this in May 2021 when the koi pond was still operational so we got to see it before and after the tragic rainstorm. I can assure you the beauty of the arboretum is just as nice as it was before. Definitely a must go when visiting Maui! read more

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