Local Expert
Brenda Yun
I'm a surfer girl and freelance writer who can't seem to get enough out of life abroad. Despite my frequent travels, my life in Hawaii (namely, my six-year old pug Iris) keeps me grounded. Here…
I'm a surfer girl and freelance writer who can't seem to get enough out of life abroad. Despite my frequent travels, my life in Hawaii (namely, my six-year old pug Iris) keeps me grounded. Here in Honolulu, buildings pop up like tourists wearing tacky aloha shirts, shops come and go like the trade winds (but ABC stores never close), traffic is part of keeping Hawaiian time--there's no wonder the speed limit is 50, but the feeling of stepping off the plane and walking in the open air to the baggage claim is unmistakable.
I heart Hawaii. I heart spam musubi and plate lunch. I heart crowded line ups at Diamond Head and Straight Outs. I heart Bruddah Iz. I heart the feeling of shedding skin as I drive through pineapple fields in to Haleiwa. The pot of gold is found in the Rainbow State. Hop on over to the "Rock" and see.
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Koko Crater Botanical Garden
Koko Crater Botanical Garden is a 60-acre basin inside the tallest crater on Oahu. The hot, dry climate here makes this the ideal location for Honolulu’s dryland botanical collection. Garden plantings occupy the inner slopes and basin of Koko Crater, while the outer crater is full of colorful plumeria and bougainvillea.
A two-mile loop trail leads you along the dryland plant collection, with botany from Hawaii and around the world. The four major collections are arranged geographically. Taking the loop counter clockwise, you will start with the Americas (lots of cacti), then browse through Hawaii, Madagascar, and Africa’s collection. Finish your trip admiring the aloe plants, baobab trees, and dryland palms. Naturalized alien kiawe and koa haole trees can be found along the trail between cultivated collections.
A self-guided walk through the garden can be completed in 1.5 hours, or arrange for a guided group tour by calling #808-522-7063. Bicycles and dogs are not permitted on the grounds.
Take Hawaii Kai Drive or Kalanianaole Highway to Kealahou Street and then turn onto Kokonani Street. Follow the sign to the horse stables, and park by the fenced entrance to the garden.