The best gardens of the Big Island
Hawaii has some of the best gardens of the Big Island to visit and enjoy. From the west side of the island to the east side and up through the Hamakua coast, you’ll find some fantastic tropical gardens to visit here.
The gardens here range from typical arboretums to tropical and exotic gardens to even more unique specialized gardens like a sculpture garden in Volcano village. You’ll find some of the most beautiful gardens to explore here on the Big Island and we share the best for you to explore all around the island.
Here are the gardens in no particular order to visit.
Volcano Village gardens
Sculpture garden at Volcano Arts Center
This small and unique garden is centered around beautiful art and sculpture in the gardens. In the back of the gift shop of the Volcano Arts Center is this beautiful garden that has just received a recent refresh with new sculpture in the garden to enjoy. The nice easy loop trail passes through some of the most significant artists from the Big Island and set in natural settings that make them shine.
Tip – don’t forget to also check out the beautiful and natural nature trail with native plants and trees also located just off the sculpture garden area.
Volcano Garden Arts
Located at the edge of Volcano Village, this beautiful garden, restaurant and gift shop is the perfect place to enjoy beautiful art in the gardens and maybe a healthy meal from the restaurant. With an eclectic garden filled with exotic plants, unusual art and scultural vignettes, it’s a fun place to walk around and see the personal collections of the owner/artist
Tip- don’t forget to visit the meditation garden in the back with tall pines and a forested area that feels very zen like and contemplative.
Check out their main website here
If you are staying at Volcano village, check out my post on things to do around the village here for more inspiration.
Hilo gardens in East Hawaii
The eastern side of the island is lush and tropical so it actually has a variety of gardens worth visiting for gardens lovers from arboretums to specialty gardens that are planted with Bromeliads.
Panaewa zoo and botanical gardens
This is more than just a local zoo but also a gorgeous botanical garden that is lovingly maintained by the various plant clubs that take care of the garden areas from the bamboo society, the Vireya society and the orchid society as the main stewards of the garden section.
You’ll love exploring both the animal exhibits along with the gorgeous tropical settings of exotic plants and specimens that complement the many walkways, resting areas and gorgeous collections of plants and unusual specimans.
Tip – Enjoy the lovely man-made animal benches by a local artists, they are definitely a photo op moment to capture.
Check out their main website here
Nani Mau Gardens
This beautiful garden is open for the public to enjoy the grounds and a meal at the restaurant located here. The expansive gardens are fun to explore from the orchid growing zone to the large expansive grounds with the pagoda tower and bell to more intimate garden areas that are fun to check out. There are lots of events that happen here, so check out their website below for more information
Tip – don’t miss out on seeing the pagoda tower and ringing the large bell for luck.
Check out their main website here
Liliu ‘okalani Gardens
These well loved gardens at the bay front are a popular spot to walk around the Japanese inspired park with its fun collection of bridges, pagodas and lagoons that make it a very special place. There’s fantastic views of the bay on one side and gorgeous mature plants and flowering trees scattered around the gardens to enjoy and photograph.
Tip- just off the garden and across a small pedestrian bridge is Coconut Island which is also fun to explore and jump of the stone towers or watch local kids climb and jump over and over again.
Check out their main website here
Check out my post on visiting lili’uokalani garden here for more inspiration
If you are visiting Hilo, check out my post on the top things to do around Hilo here for more inspiration.
University of Hawaii Botanical Gardens
Tucked into a quiet corner of the university is this sweet and colorful garden that hosts an impressive collection of plants- primarily palms, cycads and bromeliads. This small garden is jamb packed with so many stunning and rare specimens of plants and trees that are worth visiting and seeing the entire collection.
It’s surprising that this little gem is not so well visited, but that’s what makes it even more special and worth the effort to see in person.
Tip – parking is a little tough so park in the main campus area and just ask for directions on how to walk to the botanical gardens here.
Check out their main website here for more details
Hilo Arboretum Gardens
This often overlooked specimen garden is where you will find the mature trees and tropical fruit trees in this garden. You can visit and get a free guest pass at the orientation center and maybe if you are lucky enough to be there when fruits are in season, and you can actually pick fruit to take home with you.
Arboretums are different than botanical gardens in that they typically have larger specimen trees and fruit trees on display and this garden has very large scale versions of this growing.
Check out their main website here for more details
Hamakua Coast gardens
Akaka Falls State Park
You’ll find two gorgeous waterfalls set in these spectacular gardens filled with lush tropical forest of gingers, huge heliconia plants, a dense bamboo grove and other tropical delights. Along the way, you’ll find lots of blooming plants and exotic treasures while you walk around a self-guided loop trail around the botanical garden at Akaka Falls.
Tip – parking is limited so you can park outside the parking lot or just wait your turn for a spot to open up.
Check out their main website here for more details
Also, check out my post on visiting Akaka Falls here for more inspiration.
Kalopa State recreation area and arboretum
This natural arboretum hosts some of the most beautiful and mature native trees and plants and set at a 2,000 foot elevation on the Hamakua coast. You’ll find a selection of rare plants and trees including loulu palms, sandalwood, Ohia and old growth Koa along with native hibiscus plants and other endemic plants from the island.
Located 40 miles west of Hilo, the park is lush with many different trails to explore and the lovely loop trail that goes through many native forest areas in the park. There are campsites and picnic areas on site to also enjoy.
Check out their main website here for more details
Also, check out my post on visiting Kalopa State recreation park here
Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Garden
Located on the heritage historic road through Onomea is one of the most scenic drives with a gorgeous private garden to explore. The Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Garden starts from the top of the entrance and snakes downhill towards the water’s edge. You’ll come across a series of exotic gardens and tropical flowers to enjoy and experience along the way.
It’s a very lush and mature garden filled with many specialized and exotic plants and tropical flowers that wows at every corner.
Check out their main website here for more details
Waimea area of the Big Island
Anna Ranch Heritage Center
This Victorian era home and now heritage center has a beautiful garden setting to enjoy with annual beds and beautiful specimen plants to enjoy around the center. You can sign up for a historic home tour of this national historic landmark and also explore the beautiful gardens filled with hydrangeas, lillies and annuals that fill up all the public areas around the garden
Check out their main website here for more details
Kona and Hamakua coast gardens
There are not so many gardens to explore here on the dry Kona side of the island outside of some of the gorgeous resorts that have some lovely gardens to explore.
If you’re basing yourself in Kona, check out my post on the top things to do in Kona here for more inspiration.
Hilton Waikoloa Village
An expansive resort that has an impressive monorail and canal boat ferry exploring the many outdoor areas of the resort. You’ll find gorgeous marble statuary, gorgeous ocean front trails and views and lovely tropical plant vignettes and collections to enjoy all around the various hotels of the resort. Its easy enough to explore on foot with a map or just take a loop walk to see the entire resort area and enjoy the views, pools and gardens of the Waikoloa Hilton.
Paleaku Gardens
Located in South Kona at Painted Church Road, this eclectic gardens is about 7 acres and filled with multiple shrines, statuary that encompasses world themes and spirituality.
Garden visits are open on Tuesday to Saturday from 9 to 4pm and you can do a self guided tour or request guided tours on request.
Check out their main website here for more details
Check out these other fantastic Big Island posts and destinations
Best hikes around the Big Island
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