Just north of Foster Botanical Garden is Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden. Portions of this 7 ½ acre garden once belonged to Queen Lili'uokalani, last reigning monarch of Hawai'i. She bequeathed her land to Honolulu to be used for public enjoyment. This garden is devoted to native Hawaiian plants.

It has beautiful picnic areas as well as the lovely Nuuanu Stream and Waikahalulu Waterfall running through the grounds. The garden is open 9am - 4pm daily (closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) and admission is free.

Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden is located between North Kuakini and School Street, north of Foster Botanical Garden, in downtown Honolulu....

Wahi'awa Botanical Garden, or "Place of Noise", is cradled between the Wai'anae and Ko'olau mountain ranges in central O'ahu. This garden is known as the "tropical jewel" of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens. This 27-acre garden and forested raven dates back to the 1920's when the land was used by sugar planters as an experimental arboretum.

Touring this garden you will walk among plants that thrive in the cooler, shady, humid environment of this tropical rainforest. This garden is especially noted for its Hawaiian palms, aroid garden, tree ferns, epiphytic and native plants. The garden is open 9am - 4pm daily (closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) and admission is free.

The garden is located at 1396 California Avenue, Wahi'awa. 808-621-7321 Take H1 West bound to H2. Take H2 North to exit 5 (Wahiawa). Once you see California Avenue, follow the signs to the Botanical Garden....

Take a cool, refreshing drive through a lush, green rain forest that opens up to the breathtaking panoramic view of Diamond Head, Waikiki, Punchbowl Crater, and Honolulu.

Several great trails take you through the rain forest and bamboo forest to the top of a cinder cone for a fabulous view of an uninhabited valley and the South Shore.

Drive time is approximately 2 hours with stops. Be sure to stop at Pu'u Ualakaa Park for the best view from Diamond Head to Honolulu. Many trailheads begin along Tantalus Drive - trail hikes take from 1 hour to a full day - there are no facilities along the trails - check with the Division of Forestry & Wildlife at 808-587-0166 for details and maps on these hikes

From Waikiki get on Ala Wai Blvd., turn right on McCully Street and head towards the mountains. You will cross a bridge over the H1 Lunalilo Freeway, after the bridge turn left onto Wilder Avenue. Drive northwest and turn right on Makiki Street, at the 1st set of lights. Follow Makiki Street up until you come to a Y and then take Round Top Drive the rest of the way. You will end up going past the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl and will come out into the business district of Honolulu....

O'ahu, like all of the Hawaiian Islands, was formed by massive volcanoes and craters like Diamond Head, over four million years ago. The volcanoes that formed O'ahu are now dormant, but they left their signature in the form of the Koolau and Waianae mountain chains that run down the middle and western parts of the island. These mountains effectively shelter the southern and western sides of the island from the northwesterly trade winds that bring in rainy weather to the windward side of the island.
Before the clouds can get to the leeward side of the island, they have to dump all of their precipitation on the windward side. This allows the southern side of O'ahu to be sunny, and warm. Not surprisingly the Diamond Head community became some of the most valuable and sought-after real estate on the island.

Some of the most beautiful homes can be seen at the base of Diamond Head, along its coastline, and into the mountains overlooking the coast. These lovely homes are framed by the pristine, azure waters of the Pacific.

Take Kalakaua Ave. out of Waikikik. Get into the right lane after Kapahulu Avenue. At the stop sigh turn right. This will bring you to the Diamond Head Coast...

This road offers beautiful views of Hawaii's nature. The road is covered with nature tree tunnels and has many creeks flowing along side.

From Waikiki: Take H1 west bound. Get off at the Pali Highway exit. Turn right onto Old Pali Raod. Then turn right onto Nuuanu Pali Road. This is the beginning of the stroll....

Ho'omaluhia translates as"To Make a Place of Peace and Tranquility". The largest of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens, this 400-acre garden was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers to provide flood protection for Kane'ohe. Visitors can drive or stroll through the lush gardens which feature plantings from major tropical regions around the world.

This garden specializes in Hawaiian/Polynesian plants, palms and aroids, Heliconias, and ethnobotanicals. There is also a 32-acre lake, picnic areas, and a campground on site.

The garden, located at 45-680 Luluku Road, Kane'ohe, is open 9am - 4pm daily (closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) and admission is free.
Free guided walks on Saturdays at 10 a.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m.

Take the Pali Highway from Honolulu to the Kamehameha Highway. Go North on Kamehameha Highway toward Kaneohe. Before reaching the city, turn left on Luluku Road and follow the signs to the botanical garden. 808-233-7323...

The 200 acres inside the Koko Crater was set aside for development into a botanical garden in 1958. Sixty acres of the inner slope and basin is now cultivated with rare and endangered dryland plants. Long-range plans for this site is continued cultivation of plants suitable to these desert-like surroundings.

This garden specializes in African plants, cacti and succulents, Plumeria cultivars, native wiliwili, dryland palms, and Bougainvillea.

This garden is still in the early stages of development. There are no restroom facilities, drinking fountain, and other visitor accommodations. The garden is open 9am - 4pm daily (closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) and admission is free. Call 808-522-7060.

From Waikiki, take Kalaniana'ole Highway past Hanauma Bay and Sandy Beach. Take the next left on to Kealahou Street. Follow the sign for Koko Crater Stables. This is also the entrance to the botanical garden....

The lush, green Waimea Valley is located on the North Shore of O'ahu. The valley lies between the Ko'olau and the Waianae Mountain Ranges. The natural fauna and flora, river, waterfall, and bay make this truly a tropical paradise.

Take H1 west bound to H2 heading to the North Shore. Take the Wahiawa Exit and get on Kamehameha Highway to Waimea. The Valley will be on the right hand side....

The Foster Botanical Garden opened to the public in 1931. It was bequeathed to the City of Honolulu by Mrs. Mary Foster at the time of her death. This 13.5-acre garden is a living museum of exotic plants and trees collected over a period of 140 years from around the world's tropics. From tropical orchids to the cigar box tree from the Amazon, this beautiful garden is a restful and educational experience for thousands of visitors ever year.

This garden's specialty is the Palm Collection, Orchid Gardens, Prehistoric Glen, and Exceptional Trees.

The garden, located at 50 North Vineyard Boulevard, Honolulu, is open 9am - 4pm daily (closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) and admission is - Adults $5 (13 years and older) Child $1 (6-12 years) Young Child - FREE (5 years and younger)

Take H1 West bound. Get off at Vineyard Blvd. Continue down Vineyard Blvd. until you see Foster Botanical Garden on the Right hand side. 808-522-7066...

Rugged, dangerous, exciting - pictures cannot depict the utter beauty of the landscape and awesome power of the ocean seen along the East Coast of O'ahu. The soft volcanic ash that fell millions of years ago when Diamond Head and Koko exploded is like modeling clay for the waves that crash against this coast creating an eerie, stair-step sculpture. There are several lookouts and hikes along the coastal mountains that afford a dramatic view of the entire East Coast. Due to offshore reefs and volcanic tubes, the waves crash against the shoreline ferociously all year long.

This is a popular area for whale watching from December through April as the humpback whales travel the channel. Body surfers enjoy "catching a wave" and can be spotted on their boards any hour of the day.

Take H1 east bound. H1 will turn into Kalanianaole Highway. Continue straight onto Kalanianaole and the cliffs begin after Hanauma Bay....

This 193-acre natural wonderland provides a beautiful stroll through many interesting plants and unbelievable landscapes. Inspiration Point is the peak for this hike with panoramic views of Manoa Valley.

From Waikiki: Take McCully out of Waikiki. Turn right onto Kapiolani Blvd. Turn right onto University Avenue. Turn left onto Maile Way. Turn right onto Oahu Avenue. Then turn right onto East Manoa Road. After you drive under the walking overpass, turn right at the second entrance onto the access road. This will lead to the parking lot of the Lyon Arboretum....