I remember going here for the first time back in 1995. It was a wondrous place...a place to get lost, a place to discover, a place to find yourself...A place to meditate and re-energize your soul. When here, you forget all sense of time, home seems so far away and your dreams over take you. When here, you are free...free to roam, free to dream.
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens is a 400 acre rainforest and open plain Garden located in Kaneohe at the foot of the koolau mountains. Hoomaluhia means "to make a place of peace and tranquility". This beautiful Botanical Garden is covered with plants from tropical regions of the world. Throughout the garden it truly looks like Jurassic Park from certain vantage points. The garden also contains a 32 acre lake, meadows, streams, footbridges and picnic areas, camping, fishing and numerous trails along the lush gardens.
This Botanical Garden has the largest collection of tropical plants in the United States. This is a place I love to discover off the beaten path. I often go off trail and walk up and down stream, finding secret locations and small flowing waterfalls. After a long work week for those who live here in Hawaii this is a great place to relax, recharge your soul and meditate for the day by yourself or with your family. The Botanical Garden is open Monday - Sunday 9:00am until 4:00pm and on Friday, Sat and Sun if you go to the front Desk office/Visitor Center you can get a late GATE PASS allowing you some extra time to exit the GATE between 5:30-6:30.
This allows you to have up to 2+ extra hours, but PLEASE, they are strict and will close the gate on you if you go past the allowed time! So if you stay till 4, leave at 3:45...if you stay till 6:30...leave at 6:15...NO LATER! It's highly recommended you go to the Visitor Center and get yourself a Map...The Visitor Center # is: (808) 233-7323 For your information this Video took several days to shoot so if you plan on seeing most of the Garden I would highly suggest you get here at 9:00 AS GATES OPEN on FRI,SAT or SUN and while at the Visitor center get yourself a map and late pass allowing you to have a full day here from 9:00am-6:00pm. PLEASE BRING A PACKED LUNCH and plenty of water. Also wear walking or hiking sneakers or boots and Bug Spray.
CAMPING here at HO'OMALUHIA is an amazing experience. You can camp here from 9:00am Friday-4:00pm Monday. If you wish to Camp you need a permit. If you are coming from off island and vacationing you MUST call ahead of time to plan out the PERMIT HOLD and PICKUP. Permits for camping are issued via the City and County of Honolulu on-line camping permit system. Permits for other activities are issued directly at Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden. For telephone inquiries and reservations , call (808) 233-7323. ADMISSION IS FREE!