Wahiawā Botanical Garden
The Wahiawa Botanical Gardens in Honolulu include a tropical rainforest with native Hawaiian vegetation, tree ferns, air plants, and aroids. The gardens, which are located in a ravine in Central O'ahu, date back to the 1930s, when the area was utilized as an experimental arboretum by sugar farmers. Belt Collins created conceptual designs for garden enhancements such as parking, improved amenities, accessible visitor pathways throughout the gardens, and lighting upgrades. While financial limitations prevented the planned parking, utility, and facility improvements from being implemented, accessible pathways were constructed across the improved part of the 26.6-acre property. Along with the water system upgrades, including those to the park structures and irrigation facilities, a quarter-mile of concrete pathways with sitting spaces and related park amenities were supplied.
The Wahiawa Botanical Gardens are located in a rainforest and are home to over 60 different kinds of trees, as well as a variety of tree ferns and flowering tropical flora. Belt Collins' team of landscape architects and civil engineers worked on a concept design for garden renovations before producing design papers for the construction of walkways, signs, sitting spaces, and water system upgrades. Visitors may walk along the concrete pathways to view native flora, Hawaiian palms, an aroid garden, and other features.
This is a fantastic small stop. There is one high part, but it's a pretty simple fast walk on a largely paved path (there is one bit that is uneven and a little hard), but they have a nice map that indicates paved and unpaved. The pricing is perfect (free), and there are plenty of picture opportunities!
