Wahiawa Botanical Garden

Wahiawa Botanical Garden is a shaded 27-acre Central Oahu garden with cool upland air, mature trees, native Hawaiian plants, tropical collections and quiet paths above Wahiawa town.

View overview Plan Your Visit

Wahiawa Botanical Garden, Oahu

Located in central Oahu between the Wai'anae and Ko'olau mountain ranges, this 27-acre park is a quiet garden stop on your way to Oahu's North Shore. Hawaiian sugar farmers owned this site from the 1920s until 1950, when they donated the land for public use. In 1957, the land was designated a garden, and today the Wahiawa Botanical Garden is home to a wide range of tropical plant species from around the world.

Admission is free. Regular hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and the garden is closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

The Wahiawa Botanical Garden features mostly native and naturalized Hawaiian plants, though you'll also find many plants from other countries. Among the species on display are the elephant apple, rainbow eucalyptus, blue ginger, koa, shaving brush tree, candle tree, Mexican cedar, Queenland kauri, mamaki and camphor tree.

The non-native plants come primarily from tropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australia and the South Sea islands. The garden's humid, cool climate provides strong growing conditions for these species and the multitude of native Hawaiian specimens. Many of the older trees date back to the 1920s, when the sugar planters used the site for experimental tree planting.

Key Features

27-acre botanical garden in Wahiawa on Central Oahu
Cool upland setting between the Waianae and Koolau mountain ranges
Located at 1396 California Avenue
Part of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens system
Older trees trace back to experimental plantings by the Hawaii Sugar Planters' Association
Native Hawaiian plants, tropical trees, ferns, ginger, heliconia and bamboo
Shaded paths, ravine scenery and quieter garden walks
Regular hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, except Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Admission is free

Daily Activity Picks

Featured Oahu Activities

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Wahiawa Botanical Garden?

Wahiawa Botanical Garden is at 1396 California Avenue in Wahiawa, in Central Oahu between the Waianae and Koolau mountain ranges.

What makes Wahiawa Botanical Garden different?

The garden sits at a higher, cooler elevation than many Oahu gardens, so its shaded ravine and older trees support plants that thrive in a humid upland setting.

What plants can visitors see?

Plantings include native Hawaiian species, tropical trees, ferns, heliconia, ginger, bamboo, rainbow eucalyptus and plants from Asia, Australia, Africa and the South Pacific.

What is the history of the garden?

The site was used for experimental tree planting by the Hawaii Sugar Planters' Association before it became part of Honolulu's botanical garden system.

Is the garden paved or rugged?

Some areas are straightforward to walk, while lower or shaded sections can be damp, uneven or muddy after rain. Shoes with traction are a better choice than sandals.