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| The walking path on the upper portion of the garden is a charming respite. |
Wahiawa Botanical Garden is a great place to visit if you want to be quickly transported into a lush tropical rainforest sanctuary with very little effort. The twenty-seven acre garden is located in a ravine that was used in the 1930s by Hawaii Sugar Planters Association as an "experimental arboretum" according to the City's website for this garden. The garden opened in 1957.
The main walkway is wide and (I believe) ADA accessible, the earthy red concrete beautifully contrasting with the greenery and the decorative lampposts adding much charm. There are many plants to see on this route alone, from kauri to nutmeg to 'Ōhi'a. Those with good walking shoes that don't mind traversing an unpaved path can descend into the ravine to view native plants. There is a beautiful jade vine right in the parking lot.
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| 'Ōhia lehua is an endemic keystone species in Hawaii forests (found only in Hawaii; other forest species sort of depend on it), and is currently being threatened on the Big Island by a fungal blight. |
Read an archived Star Bulletin article about Wahiawa.