Liliʻuokalani and Wahiawā Botanical Gardens (smaller city gardens)

Two quieter city gardens: Liliʻuokalani Botanical Garden in Nuʻuanu, once Queen Liliʻuokalani's favorite picnic spot, with native plants and a waterfall; and Wahiawā Botanical Garden, a 27-acre forested ravine in cool Central Oʻahu.

• Liliʻuokalani Botanical Garden: just above Foster Garden across the freeway; native Hawaiian plants, a waterfall on Nuʻuanu Stream, and history as the Queen's picnic grounds.
• Wahiawā Botanical Garden: 27 acres in a forested ravine in Wahiawā, first planted as an experimental arboretum in the 1920s; plants that like cool, wet uplands.
• Both are free, small and good for a short walk. Check the City's botanical gardens page for current hours.
• Wahiawā is on the way to the North Shore via H-2.

Source: City and County of Honolulu: Honolulu Botanical Gardens

Last checked Oct. 29, 2026. Hours, fees and rules can change, so confirm with the official source before you go.