Best Botanical Gardens on Oahu Hawaii

Anthony Calleja Photography
3 min readMar 21, 2019

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See: Travel Photography

There are five distinct gardens forming a unique garden system. The five gardens are located in different ecological settings around the island of Oahu. They offer visitors year-round opportunities to explore unique & diverse plant collections. Admission is free, except at Foster Botanical Garden.

Fosters Botanical GardensFoster Botanical Garden

A garden in the midst of busy downtown Honolulu? Yes! & here at Foster Botanical Garden, visitors find a refreshing change from the chaos of the city. As the oldest of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens, Foster Garden displays a mature & impressive collection of tropical plants. Some of the magnificent trees in this 14-acre garden were planted in the 1850s by Dr. William Hillebrand. They marked the beginning of a heritage that became The Honolulu Botanical Gardens.

Palm collection Lyon Orchid Garden Hybrid Orchid Display Case Prehistoric Glen Exceptional Trees Foster Garden Giftshop 50 North Vineyard Boulevard Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

Phone: (808) 522–7066

Ho’omaluhia Botanical GardensHo’omaluhia Botanical Garden

Strolling or driving through these lush four hundred acres in windward Oahu, you will truly agree that Ho`omaluhia is rightfully named “a peaceful refuge.” Opened in 1982, this garden in Kaneohe features plantings from major tropical regions around the world grouped geographically. Special emphasis is placed on conserving plants native to Hawaii.

Hawaiian plants Palms & aroids Ethnobotanical exhibits Heliconias Picnic & camping grounds Catch & Release Fishing (weekends) 45–680 Luluku Road Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744

Phone: (808) 233–7323

Koko Crater Botanical Garden

In 1958, 200 acres on the slopes & basin of Koko Crater at the eastern end of Oahu were set aside as a botanical garden. Although it is still only partially developed, long-range plans envision Koko Crater Botanical Garden as an example of a xeriscape. Here selective planting & water conservation techniques transform this landscape into a garden where plants suitable to these desert-like surroundings can thrive & flourish.

African plants Cacti & succulents Plumeria cultivars Native wiliwili (Erythrinas) Dryland palms

Bougainvillea

Lili`uokalani Botanical GardenLili`uokalani Botanical Garden

Just north of Foster Garden & located between North Kuakini & School Streets, is Lili`uokalani Botanical Garden. Portions of this 7½ acre garden were once the property & favorite picnic grounds of Queen Lili`uokalani, the last reigning monarch of Hawai`i. She later bequeathed her land to the City & County of Honolulu to be used for the public’s enjoyment. This developing garden is devoted to native Hawaiian plants. The garden is open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Closed on Christmas & New Year’s days.

Native Hawaiian plants Nuuanu Stream & waterfalls North Kuakini Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

Phone: (808) 522–7060

Wahiawa Botanical Garden

Cradled between the Waianae & Koolau mountain ranges in central Oahu lies Wahiawa Botanical Garden — the “tropical jewel” of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens. This 27-acre garden & forested ravine dates back to the 1920s when this land was first used by sugar planters as an experimental arboretum. Your tour will take you among plants that thrive in the cooler environment & shady, humid habitat of this tropical rain forest.

Hawaiian palms Aroid garden Epiphytic plants Native plants 1396 California Avenue Wahiawa, Hawaii 96786

Phone: (808) 621–5463

Oahu Botanical Gardens | Botanical Gardens on Oahu

Anthony Calleja Photography is a brand name for primary website anthonycalleja.com, a professional Oahu photographer offering fun and affordable beach and sunset lifestyle photography for families and couples in Waikiki Oahu Hawaii. I specialize in Hawaii First Birthday Pictures, Oahu Elopement Photographer, Waikiki Family Beach Portraits, Oahu Couples Photography Ideas, Modeling Portfolios, Four Seasons Family Photographer, Oahu Surprise Proposals, Hawaii Maternity Photography, Oahu Senior Portraits, Honolulu Business Headshots, Oahu Engagement Photographers and more.

Originally published at www.anthonycalleja.com on March 21, 2019.

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Anthony Calleja Photography

My name is Anthony Calleja. I am an Oahu photographer based in Kapolei, Hawaii. I specialize in family photography on Oahu. www.anthonycalleja.com