Ho'oumaluhia Botanical Garden Offers Easy Access to Nature

[Maria de los Angeles]

Ho'oumaluhia Botanical Garden means "to make a place of peace and tranquility" and it surely lives up to its name. It's hard to believe the garden is located just shy of a residential and urban area.

The garden sprawls for 400-acres at the foot of the Ko'olau Mountains in Kaneohe, Oahu. With free admission, a scenic lake, picnic areas, walking trails and weekend campsites, Ho'omaluhia garden is not only a boon for locals, but also for tourists. Botany enthusiasts will love the plant collections from tropical regions around the world, including Sri Lanka, India, Polynesia, Africa and of course, Hawaii. Paved or dirt trails are great for strolls through lush rain forest environments.

The best part: you can drive from one plant "region" to another up a beautiful steadily winding road, which ends in a open picnic space offering a unique vantage point of the Ko'olau. For anyone who wants to experience tropical nature in Oahu without having to embark on a strenuous hike, Ho'omaluhia hits the spot.

Free guided walks are available. Visit Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden for more information.