Moanalua Gardens is such a lovely, central place on Oahu to come and enjoy a little rest and relaxation in nature. My husband and I have been coming here for years, and remember coming here when we first started dating. The price went up a little bit to a few bucks a person, but it's still worth the entrance fee. We came back here with our kids, who had never been, and they had so much fun playing in and around the huge trees, running around the big open spaces, and feeding the ducks in the duck pond. A picnic was a delight at a table, and we brought a blanket to sit on and eat snacks again a little later while we were walking around. The bathrooms are nice and renovated. Really appreciate that touch. Overall, a great place to come for a little communue with nature. read more

See all

5star beautiful trees,ginger, taro patch, mango trees, ulu, koi pond right off the freeway, literally. Look for the green patina gates. Lots of free parking on a Monday morning . Entree fees are a bit pricey if u not a kamaaina @ $10, so minus a star. Restrooms available, no food or drink to buy, so bring your own bentos and mat,only about 4 tables. And its hawaii, so ants and flies! read more

See all

Having lived on Oahu most of my life, I'm surprised it took me this long to finally visit Moanalua Gardens. For years, I was confused by the closed freeway gates, but we finally found our way in this past weekend. After grabbing some sweets in town and failing to find parking, we decided to head toward Moanalua. A last-minute turn (and some dramatic screams from my sister) landed us safely through the gates. Pro tip: Keep an eye out for the entrance--it comes up fast! Entry for Kama'aina is a very reasonable $4 per person. While it's not the most expansive botanical garden I've ever seen, it is a peaceful "secret" oasis right in the city. The massive monkeypod trees provide incredible shade for the many picnic tables available. We loved the duck pond and watching the turtles. You can even buy food to feed them, which is great for families. It's quiet, uncrowded, and perfect for a slow stroll across the bridge and along the stream. Just be sure to follow the signs and take your valuables with you when you park! And the bathroom , although indicates women, the signs hanging in the doors indicate men and the other two women. Restroom is nice and clean and I liked the classic farm sink and faucet. read more

Moanalua Gardens - Parks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

What a beautiful space and property! Such a lovely place to decompress, stroll through the park, feed some koi fish, and hug a tree. It was a nice pit stop to come and relax -- to enjoy the scenery and what it has to offer. Some things to note, the park has an entry fee of $4 if you are kama'āina and the fish food is also $4. read more

See all

it's a great place for weddings, graduation or other events and tourists, but I have a gripe why locals, especially the residents that live near the park need to pay to enter this park. I grew up in Moanalua Gardens, and used to frequent this park to play or picnic at least 3x a week, then as I grew up and moved, I found out that they started charging $1 admission to Kama'ainas to enter the gardens, and now it's $4 even if you are a resident in the neighborhood, thus the 3 stars. Otherwise, it's a nice clean, well kept park. Bathrooms are very clean. The little temple at the end of the small bridge over the pond was known by us neighborhood kids to be haunted and is now a scenic background with bamboo on each side, but is blocked off with a chain from going too close and peeking in the keyhole like we used to. The duck pond is great for event pictures. The park has several places to take graduation and wedding pictures, but I think you need to call in advance in case there is a large wedding party that reserved the whole park. Lots of parking, but free only if you pay the park admission to go in the park. read more

See all

We were approached by a guy claiming to be the owner of the place. First he was standing at a distance calling us by moving his finger in a way you call a dog which was disrespectful. When we both walked to meetup he stated that we were a bad public image, stating we were loud and obnoxious and we can go do that somewhere else. If he wanted us to go he could've asked us to but he made a scene which caught other peoples attention and that's not professional coming from someone who works with people. The Garden needs people in uniform next time if they have an issue with guest and not someone in plain clothes that's going to bad mouth guest enjoying their time. read more

ADULTS - $10 CHILDREN 6 - 12 - $7 CHILDREN UNDER 6 - FREE KAMA'AINA & MILITARY - $4 KAMA'AINA & MILITARY CHILDREN 12 & UNDER - FREE Lots of open space for kids to run, play, tons of shaded areas and picnic areas. There's a cool looking pond with koi fish and ducks. Some of the ducks were not shy and walked up to the kid (it made me nervous). There's also mosquitos so make sure you wear some repellent of sorts. There's fish/duck food you can purchase at the entrance- just ask the cashier when you pay for your entrance fee. Towards the back right side of the gardens there are lots of homeless living under the bridge area. Otherwise, the grounds are well kept and it was a nice day with the kiddos! read more

This garden is a unique oasis of hitachi (monkeypod trees). The expansive canopy that each tree holds is breathtaking. The gardens are well maintained. And the serene surroundings is a true treasure. read more

Good and not so bad. Haven't been there in decades. Good: Very lush and ample space to roam; probably great for a retreat (adult or youth). It's very quiet, and lots of backdrops for pics. Weather is warm, with showers occasional which isn't bad. Bathroom was clean. The not so bad: it's $4/person Kamaaina/~$10 non. (I guess it helps keep the maintenance up, and deters some folks from bringing large amounts of people/party goers. Which is kinda nice). There isn't a souvenir shop/educational program; we would've bought stuff. Didn't enjoy the attacking flies, and occasional mosquito. Overall, I like the place, but not a lot of reason to do it. Meh. read more

This place has been closed for a long time sue to Covid mandates and renovations. Now that it's open, there are entry fees. We paid $4 per person since we are Kamaaina. It was more than we expected yes. A safe place to gather, clean restrooms, gorgeous park and fresh island air! Bring your lounge chairs and a blanket and just lay out under the beautiful Monkey Pod trees. We will definitely go there our little gatherings again real soon! read more

I live nearby. We have family visiting from Chile, 35 hours of flying! The park has been closed since COVID, that's 3 years. When do you plan on reopening? I would have loved to take them there since I grew up spending hours at the park. Feeding the koi, watching the ducks, scooping fish, just having a picnic under the massive trees. I would love to bring my family there. I know we cannot afford a private tour, and I doubt they will open before they leave. But I thought it doesn't hurt to ask so I emailed them. Unfortunately the email on the website no longer works. I'm starting to think they will never open. If that's the case sell it to someone who can take care of the park and give it back to the people. read more

Update ** We decided to go take pictures anyways because my sister basically was like we might as well just go down there and see if we can take the pictures and if they don't let us in than that's it. It took us about 10 -15 minutes to talk with the staff there and for them to get ahold of their manager. In the end they let us take pictures and I did get several messages and calls from Brigette (the events manager). I appreciate that they got back to us in general and they explained why she couldn't get back to. She apologized and said that they were busy with another wedding/event they had a day prior. I appreciate that they apologized and got back to me . But I still think there are things they should work on. read more

Can you find serenity right next to the H-1 freeway? Absolutely. I find it here at Moanalua Gardens. These well-manicured gardens are located down the road from Tripler Hospital. Parking is plentiful and costs $1 for locals and $5 for tourists. Crowds of tourists are bused over to the gardens but even though many are there, the area is large enough and doesn't feel crowded. Events are also held here. Snacks, including gelato and popsicles are available in the small convenience store that you pay for parking. They also have souvenirs for sale. Best part of the garden (besides all the open area for running) is the pond area where there are ducks and birds you can feed. There are also koi in the pond. Overall, a great place to enjoy the outdoors. Plenty of shade available under the huge banyan trees. Forgot a blanket or mat? No worries, there are a few benches that were beautifully designed using logs. read more

See all

Today is the first day that I've seen the gate open. However, it looks like it's open for a private event. However, the park closed sign is down. read more

Moanalua Gardens - Gate to parking lot. - Parks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Moanalua Gardens is such a beautiful garden. I looked on yelp the other week for a garden and found Moanalua garden. The pictures show that they have koi there so we wanted to check it out. It looks like people can have their wedding ceremony here. I think it would make a perfect venue. It's spacious and beautiful and some people's posts of their weddings are incredible. Anyways there's an admission fee to get into the gardens. You pay at the front booth before you enter. If you're a tourist, you pay $5, but if you're a local you just have to pay $1. My daughter was free since she's so little so I only had to pay $1 which is quite a deal. We got to see the koi and the ducks swimming in the pond. She loved looking at all the fish in there. There were even tourists feeding the fish. I'm not sure but maybe you can buy the fish food in the gift shop/admissions booth. After we looked at the fish, we just walked around. There's not a lot of plants or flowers to look at but it really is a nice place to have a picnic or just relax. My daughter loved the wide open spaces and just ran. They have these little benches all around and she made sure she climbed every single one of them. Great place and goal accomplished. My daughter was tired from running around and was good for her nap. I'd definitely come back here again and have a nice lunch here just relaxing. read more

See all

Hawaii is a big beautiful garden. Oahu, the most developed/heavily populated of the islands is still a beautiful tropical garden to folks who don't live there. Moanalua Gardens is beautiful - lots of open space (lawn/grass) and some gorgeous trees including a HUGE monkey pod tree. Flowers, not so much. There are several interesting buildings including a Japanese tea house, and King Kamehameha V's summer cottage and a very ornate 1903 Chinese Hall. There is a koi pond, and lots of water fowl that are very comfortable around humans, but they don't bite (at least they didn't bite me). It is very open and though there were a few busloads of tourists while we were there, we wandered around without any problems - never felt crowded. There was also a major woodshow there when we were there that was interesting and had some really nice wood art. There's not a lot to do or see, and admission isn't much either ($1 for military). It really is worth a visit, but the kids will hate you if you're taking them away from the beach or the pool. read more

See all

This review is specifically about Moanalua Gardens as a wedding ceremony and reception venue. It's easy to understand how this giant garden full of beautiful monkeypod trees would make a stunning backdrop for a wedding ceremony and reception, but what really ALLOWED us to make this special day exactly what we wanted was Bridgette Olsen, the Events Manager for the property, and her flexibility and willingness to work with making our vision a reality. We were concerned about all the different rules the property has in place, but she patiently answered all the questions, worked with us on last minute changes, and was flexible in allowing us to bring in vendors and elements that would transform the already beautiful garden into something magical. Our 180 guests were blown away by the natural green surroundings, the shoji lanterns dancing in the tree at the Makai Mound where we had our ceremony, the clear top tent filled with cafe lights and shoji lanterns, the lawn games, the food and drinks, the air conditioned restrooms that we were able to bring in so that our less able-bodied guests didn't have to hike a football field back to the existing restrooms. The Gardens provides a variety of different looks and feels for photographs. I would say that the points to take into consideration (that may not be positive) are: 1) the park is open to the public when it's open to the public -- which means there may be people in the park during your event; most of them are respectful and give space, but it may impact guest parking and availability of certain areas for photos; 2) if you have a larger guest count, the price to rent the venue can get expensive very quickly as it's based on total headcount; and 3) there isn't anywhere nice nearby (like an AirBnB or hotel) to get ready -- so prepare to travel a little bit from the getting-ready-place. That being said, we would not have changed a darn thing -- there is no other venue on island that can has a similar garden look and feel, that also allows you to use the vendors that you want, and is easily accessible from all corners of the island. Moanalua Gardens provided everything we were looking for in a wedding venue -- and Bridgette Olsen was a big part of making our dreams come true. read more

See all

I am so happy to have been told about this park by my boyfriend as I was looking for a new spot to take photos of him and my son for my photography homework... This place is so spacious, clean, and well maintained (Besides their parking lot could use some work as there as csr sized pot holes!!! NO JOKE Be careful as you drive). There's not much of a garden compared to botanical gardens throughout Oahu but if you are looking for a place to bring family and friends to relax and have a picnic its perfect! There are some logged benches through out the park but its best to being your own matt, chairs, and/or small folding table. This is also a hotspot for tourist busses to stop by but they do not stay for long. Entrance fee for everyone is $3.00. Kamaaina and Senior Citizen $1.00. Children under 4 is free with paid accompanied adult. One ticket is for the full day pass in which you just hold onto your receipt. The main reason why my boyfriend recommened this place is because they have lots of birds, ducks, and fish for you to feed! They have 16oz cups of Koi Pellete food you can buy at the giftshop upon entering the garden for $2.00 each. Koi fish can only be fed that, as for the birds and ducks i have seen others feed them bread. Will definitely be coming back for future picnics and family time! read more

See all

Great place for kids. The highlight for them is the koi pond area where they can feed the koi, ducks, and birds. At the entrance, there is a sign that says that the koi pond is closed until further notice, but you can still go up there and feed them. Just be careful not to fall in or get splashed on because they are not maintaining the pond (that's why it's closed). You can still purchase koi pellets at the gift shop for $2 per cup, or you can bring your own pellets from the pet store (that's probably the cheaper way to go). Don't forget to bring old bread for the ducks and birds! In addition to the koi pond, the park has a bunch of huge trees to look at and wide open space for kids to run around. As you probably know, Moanalua Gardens is home to the world famous "Hitachi Tree" that is the corporate symbol for electronics manufacturer Hitachi, Ltd. They pay $400,000 per year just so that they can use this tree as their corporate symbol. What a windfall for the park! Admission is $3 ($1 for kama'aina and military), free for kids 12 and under. Lots of free parking! read more

See all

I would have to commend the staff of Moanalua Gardens for keeping this park well-maintained and clean. In the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, it's a comfort to know that one can just come to this park to relax with friends or family. Most recently, I have been coming to the park to to just relax and be in a calm and serene setting. Although you sometimes have to relax among the groups of tourists that stop at the park for photo ops with the "Hitachi tree", it's still a beautiful and calming environment to be in. I have noticed families playing with their kids, groups of people having a picnic, as well as folks just stopping by to enjoy their lunch and then head out to where they need to be. In any case, the park is spacious and can be enjoyed by everyone, locals and tourists alike. Bottom Line: A very beautiful, spacious, and well-maintained park. read more

See all

Gosh, so much to say about this location. It was incredibly beautiful, a paradise and truly a God send. It has luscious green trees, so much land and is just overall breathtaking. Aside from the location, though, I want to rave about the event coordinator, Bridgette. She saved our wedding day. Our previous location suddenly fell through and Bridgette helped us throw an entirely new wedding within 3 hours. She waited on us hand and foot to make sure our wedding would be one to remember, and it really turned out better than it would have at our first location. She even ran over to me with my bouquet as I started my walk down the aisle. I had tunnel vision to my man after SO much stress and then finally seeing my Diego at the end of the aisle, I totally forgot florals even existed. Bridgette didn't though! She truly is incredibly professional and equally as personable. It is evident that she loves to help create memorable experiences for her guests, not just rent out her location. 100% recommend! read more

See all

I never knew that Hitachi Trees existed. I saw this place on the airplane magazine and decided to come check it out with my GF. Perfect spot for her to take photos. Admission is only $3 and you can have access to a huge garden that pretty much has only Hitachi Trees. There is a distinct bigger and prettier tree that everybody takes pics of. After the trees, you can go check out the Koi Pond and/or feed the ducks. Aside from that, not much to see but its a pretty calm/pretty place to visit if you have time. read more

Moanalua Gardens - Parks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I went with my toddler just to experience open space and greenery. It was just as I remembered it - large monkeypods that are well taken care of, and open space to run around. We brought a little snack, and sat down to enjoy. The only downside is all the tourist buses that keep coming through (this was pre-pandemic). They step inside, take pictures, and leave after 15 minutes. So get away from the entrance area and it will be much more serene. There are also LOTS of mosquitos, so prepare with repellent. read more

A large park that is also the site of Kamehameha V cottage, the Hitachi tree and the Annual Prince Lot Hula festival is just wonderful to relax and enjoy the Taro Patch and fishpond as well as walk along the stream bed or just to sit on the log benches scattered around. It is interesting to watch the groves of Japanese tourist who come to see the Hitachi Tree and to take pictures underneath it. I like to come here with my two little ones as they love to look at the Koi in the Pond and to feed the ducks. I find it to be one of the most calm relaxing parks to come to. read more

See all

Went here with a bunch of mommy friends thinking I've never been here before. Woah did I feel the paddle board slapping me in the face once I got to the koi pond! So it's where my then boyfriend (currently my better half) had brought me to one of the first trips to Hawaii. (But he doesn't know that! Shhhhh!) I mean how am I supposed to forget a place like this?!?! Hmm well some moves, add a dog, some kids all sorts of brain cells have been stolen! Ok joking aside - glad I made it here with my lil minions. They just ran away, then shouted, then squealed, and ran back to me, then ran away again. Yup wide open spaces! It sits below the freeway, and in the valley below the ever pink Tripler hospital. So very easy to find! :) Parking is free, and entrance under Kama'aina rate is $1! $2 for a 20oz cup stuffed w/ koi pellets! (Oh yes, that's PLENTY! And all matters of critters will be flapping, quacking, and practically throwing themselves at your hands!) While the grounds are kept in excellent condition, the same cannot be said about the former King's cottage, or the temple by the koi pond. Seems to be in 'still repairing' state. Would be nice to finally have them fixed up and allow us history lovers to meander in those areas. Small gift shop for those who wish to get souvenirs. Apparently there are festivals held here, I have yet to attend one. One of these days! Outside food, beverages are allowed but no pooches. Please keep it clean and pick up after yourself! Enjoy! read more

Moanalua Gardens - Parks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is a wonderful place for a sweet picnic or to run around and be a kid again... this HUGE park was right off the freeway and even though all the buildings were blocked off... we were still able to enjoy the shades of the trees and got in a peaceful walk around the grounds. well as peaceful was it could be until we walked under a mango tree and also got hit in the head with a falling mango that split in half as it hits the ground! yeah that was a pretty good sign to say goodbye to the huge old monkey pod trees and it's amazing shades. read more

Moanalua Gardens - Parks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

A simple $1-2 donation gets access to a huge expansive green space with lots of privacy or picnics with family or friends The serenity and peacefulness ad you reconnect with the land especially being in city is rejuvenating read more

Auwe! Why is this park still closed? This park was always supposed to be for the people of Hawaii. I grew up in Moanalua Gardens and would like to take my daughter to the park I played in when I was her age. Shameful that it has come to this. read more

This place is beautiful and totally worth the visit. It's only $1 for kamaaina adults and baby was free. We set out for a picnic today but arrived in the rain. It was still gorgeous despite all the mud. There are huge lovely trees located all throughout the grounds, as well as a vast open field of grass with tropical flowers here and there. There are some neat tree inspired benches and tables along with a souvenir shop. The shop is where you pay to enter, but they also have really cute garden souvenirs. We will definitely be back when the sun is out. read more

See all

I love this park! super nice attraction for the tourists AND us locals :) before you enter you need to pay an entrance fee of $4. kamaaina is $1 yay us! lol you also can buy koi food to feed the fishes at the pond. they also have a small store area for the tourists to buy stuff. they even have snacks to eat while you walk the park :) super nice field and a big tree to take a picture in front of! there are lots of rest stops and shady areas to just lay your blanket and rest. they have a koi pond with fishes and ducks! feel free to feed them! fun to take your children :) the area is very nice & clean. very relaxing. read more

See all

Simplicity at its finest! Beautiful garden area with a pond where you can feed the fish and ducks. It has a lot of scenic areas where people can take pictures, have a picnic, or just hang out outside. I happened to chance upon even a pretty layout for a small wedding that was to happen later today and it was lovely, in the shade with green lush dress around it. Simple breakdown: park entrance is a few bucks for 12+ people, and $1 for military or DoD workers. A cup of fish food is $2, and you can bring in snacks and whatnot. There are lots of benches around for you to sit and enjoy the views and just hang out. Definitely a nice place to take kids or just relax for a while. read more

See all

I came here a few months ago to celebrate a friend's birthday picnic, and it was the perfect venue! Location: It is a little hidden, especially if you haven't been there before. But if you type it on the GPS you should be able to get there okay. It's a hidden gem, that's perfect for weddings, parties, photoshoots, or a special day with the kids. Parking: You have to pay to attend. A simple fee to enjoy the garden. I can't quite remember how much, but it wasn't too expensive. It might be cheaper on certain days. I did attend on a Sunday afternoon, and it wasn't too busy. I might have paid $1/per person when I showed my Hawaii State ID. It's a beautiful garden, with open grass fields, and plenty of trees making for a perfect place for countless picture taking. Because of the location on the island, it might get a tad bit rainy and windy, depending on season (at least it was on the day we went), however when the sun came out it was perfect for photos. It is very clean and well kept. It was a nice escape from busyness of town. read more

Location: Moanalua Gardens is right off the highway. Google it, its right next to Moanalua Elementary. Parking: Lots of stalls here, free parking lot style parking. Admission: Paid upon entry. Our 3 kids 6,5, and 2 were free for two Kamaaina adults was $1 each Lots of shady trees for a picnic!! Yes you can bring balls frisbee wagon your own food etc Koi pond has ducks also, signs say do not feed anything but koi pellets but I saw some older women feeding bread in the water Well maintained manicured lawn Definitely will come back super cheap way to get the kids energy used up before heading home!!! Nice and shadyb read more

See all

This was one of favorite places to go to on Sundays when we lived on the island. I still dtop by when I travel there tor work. Unfortunately it has been closed during my last 3 visits. read more

Beautiful place for Mother Nature and just relax. You can see this place from the freeway with the huge, lush trees and open fields. Parking is ok if not filled with tourist bus and other cars. Been coming here ever since I was a child and still looks amazing. There is a a small fee now per person which they say it's to help maintain the area. So many places to just hangout you can even picnic here. Tired of looking at grass and trees the walk the perimeter where you can find a stream and keeping goin you will see a Japanese building model surrounded with a pond full of koi and ducks if you are lucky. This is a great place for photos but no commercial photography is allowed last time they told me. read more

I used to come to Moanalua Park a lot as a kid. We enjoyed the beautiful landscape and how you could just have a picnic on a blanket with your family. It's a great place to play hide and seek. We would catch small fish in the river and just enjoy being outside. It's located in a very odd place though because you are surrounded by lush green grass and tall beautiful trees and then there is a freeway right next to it. Now that I'm grown when I visit Moanalua Park I have very special memories of just hanging out and yes playing hide and seek. Moanalua Gardens is still a very beautiful park and you can tell that the people who cares for the park knows that it's a special place. I love that many family's can still enjoy having picnics, read a book or just play hide and seek at Moanalua Park. read more

I live in Hawaii, but I'm not a water person-I'm a tree person. Yep, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and this one loves all shades of green! So why has it taken me so dang long to visit the Moanalua Gardens? Probably because google maps does a lousy job of getting me there :p. It took me to the other end, where the school is! There is plenty of parking. Kama'ainas pay $1 each for entry. Pack a picnic, wear a hat, lather your spf sun block (I got burnt on an overcast day), and visit with someone you enjoy being around :) Whether it be a date, a friends outing, or a quiet alone time-this place is a hidden gem! There are clean bathrooms. The small gift shop sells food for the ducks if you'd like to feed them. I wished for a hammock (but I doubt you can actually put one up there). There were busloads of tourists (for the Hitachi tree) and some scattered showers on the day I visited, but nothing to deter me from coming back. read more

Came here on a Saturday afternoon so our 2 year old toddler could run around & play. We love coming here since there is usually a fair amount of breeze & generous amount of shade provided by the trees. We love it here. Great place to have a picnic & just lounge out on a sunny day :) read more

Moanalua Gardens - Parks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I think that if I had more time on my hands, then I'd come here once a week. Moanalua Gardens is a perfect spot for picnics, weddings, and photoshoots. It's also a great place for walks, getting out of the house, and to kick back & take a nap. Entrance costs $3 for adults and $1 for military/kama'aina residents. Children under the age of 12 are free as long as they are accompanied. Parking here is always easy to find, as it's rarely busy with people that actually have their own cars and park there. Moanalua Gardens mainly attracts tourists on buses coming from the East side of the island, so in an event of every parking stall to be occupied is rare to happen. The only thing I'd really change about this place is the souvenir shack near the entrance where you can purchase food and snacks. With so many buses coming in and out, packed to the brim with tourists, an upgrade to the building will surely prove it's purpose, as Moanalua Garden desperately needs it. Bigger buildings means more space for products and an overall boost in productivity. More customers can come in and get what they need faster. In regards of my entire experience at the Garden, I don't think it could've been any better. The Gardens offer a lot of different things you can do to kill time. It's very well-maintained and spacious so that everyone can share the park freely. My favorite part was seeing the family of ducks waddle in single filed lines as the trees swayed under control of the breeze. Without a doubt, this place can easily be anyone's happy place. All you can hear are the sounds of chirping, children playing, and families enjoy themselves. It's just a nice place to be, period. read more

See all

For years, I would be driving on the freeway & would zip by a beautiful green park w/ a huge monkey pod tree. I only knew it as Moanalua Gardens & nothing else...until I recently attended a Yelp Book Club picnic at Moanalua Gardens. The 24-acre MG has an expansive lawn that contains two historical structures, many shaded monkey pod & banyan trees, rare plants, bamboo plants, a taro patch, a koi pond, & a stream. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/moanalua-gardens-honolulu?select=BR21n_YMJLSWMwCzbBjEdQ http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/moanalua-gardens-honolulu?select=Eotq_l0zyOe7uZDX3kw4Eg The park houses a Victorian-style summer cottage that was constructed in the 1850's, which was the summer home of Prince Lot Kapuaiwa, who later reigned as King Kamehameha V from 1863 to 1872; entry is not permitted due to safety reasons. Great luaus were held here, as the King encouraged the dancing of the hula, which was banned by the missionaries. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/moanalua-gardens-honolulu?select=mgFconceebc8-VwtLBTKOQ The park also houses a Chinese entertainment hall that was built in China, disassembled, shipped to Hawaii, & reassembled near the koi pond around 1905; private gatherings were held there. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/moanalua-gardens-honolulu?select=J7440cZ-5_XEKBDhtCrCqw The park is a beautiful & serene spot where one can use it for having a picnic; feeding the fish, ducks, & birds; taking a nap; having young children run around; or just a place for reflecting. There are meandering pathways for strollers & those who want to appreciate the surrounding beauty that the park offers. There are interesting benches & tree stumps carved w/ seats to sit on; they're made from fallen trees & varnished to resemble petrified wood. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/moanalua-gardens-honolulu?select=8Jh4PL-bFJ093EsdUyquow http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/moanalua-gardens-honolulu?select=vCwaiUo2AKJwL2Rvwla6aA And there's even a gift shop. Most people know the gardens as the home of the magnificent monkey pod tree w/ its huge umbrella-shaped canopy known as the "Hitachi Tree." It is 133 years old, 82 feet tall, 131 feet wide, w/ a trunk girth of 22 feet. That is huge! This tree is registered as an exceptional tree by the City & County of Honolulu & cannot be removed or destroyed without city council approval. The Hitachi Corp., a large electronic manufacturer in Japan, has used this tree as a corporate symbol since 1973; it pays an annual fee of $400,000 for exclusive rights to use the tree's image for promotional purposes. (Although it's a hefty amount, it only partially covers the park's operational expenses of $600,000 annually.) As such, you'll see busloads of Japanese tourists stopping by at this park to take pictures of the Hitachi Tree. The Japanese believe that this tree has the spirit of wisdom & success. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/moanalua-gardens-honolulu?select=iDUulPPJ3XGygqPKRb05eA There are a number of rules governing the gardens: 1) keep off the trees, 2) no animals or pets allowed, 3) no commercial photography permitted, 4) no lawn games including model plane flying, 6) no alcoholic beverages, 6) use rubbish & charcoal containers provided, 7) wedding & picnic groups must register in advance, 8) groups limited to 25 people, and 9) park open during daylight hours only. The groundskeepers are awesome in maintaining the gardens. The grounds are immaculate, the grass mowed regularly, and plants trimmed frequently. The restrooms are always clean. They also ensure that the rules are enforced. While our group was there, a groundskeeper came by to inquire about our group so he could check it off on his reservation list & also asked if everything was okay. He was just doing his job, and I'm grateful that he was, as I felt very safe in the park without having to worry about undesirable people there. MG has been hosting the annual Prince Lot Festival each July since 1978. It's the largest non-competitive hula celebration held in Hawaii to Honor Prince Lot, who reprised the once forbidden hula in Moanalua. About 10,000 residents and tourists attend the festival. Managed by the non-profit MG Foundation, MG is a privately-owned 24-acre park that is open to the public. King Kamehameha V transferred ownership of the gardens to Bernice Pauahi Bishop, who was born in Moanalua; after she died in 1884, she subsequently left it to Samuel Mills Damon, her husband's business partner. After the last remaining Damon grandchild died in 2004, it was sold to Kaimana Ventures, which has continued the legacy of the park today. MG is a gem of a park, so peaceful & serene, with charming historical structures, trees, flora, fish, & birds that many other parks do not have. I will certainly have to go back there again. Thank you Yelp for introducing me to this park. read more

See all