Hawai‘i Tropical Botanical Garden

This place is truly magical, especially for plant lovers. The orchid collection is absolutely stunning, with an incredible variety of colors and blooms that feel almost unreal. A well-maintained walkway winds through lush tropical gardens, making it perfect for a relaxing stroll while soaking in the peaceful surroundings. Everywhere you look, something beautiful is growing or in bloom. It’s a wonderful place to slow down, take photos, and fully enjoy nature. Whether you’re a serious plant enthusiast or just appreciate natural beauty, this spot is unforgettable. You really have to see it for yourself—photos don’t do it justice! 🌺

Beautiful garden. Well-maintained with a lot of diversity. The trails were easy to traverse, though the beginning is a steep and may be difficult for anyone with mobility issues. Loved that there were ocean views at the pinnacle before you loop back. This garden felt well-worth the fee.

I don't know how to put into words how beautiful of place the botanical gardens is. From the advice of a friend we went right when it opened, and we paid for a guided tour. Im so glad we did both of those things. The paid tour was great because the guide was very knowledgeable and if we asked something he was a 100% sure of he had a tablet to look it up. As I said, we did the guided tour and then spent time wondering around after on our own. Going early was a bonus because as we were hiking back up you could feel the heat and humidity building. It is a decent amount of walking. Not hard, but there are inclines, and some may find it difficult. Wear good walking shoes, with traction. The walkways were wet and slick in some places. Take your time! Smell the beauty.

My family and I hiked/walked this beautiful garden today. It is lush, awesomely maintained, and peaceful. The creators put decades of their lives into creating it from a wasteland site, all by hand. The paths are wonderfully maintained and the signage excellent. Do not bisit this island without a visit to Hawaii Botanical Garden 💞

Spent a couple hours in awe at the wonders of the earth God created for us! The flowers probably change monthly, but it's too far to go every month. Picnic tables available. Free parking. $35 admission.

These photos are from first time we visited 7 years ago. So many beautiful flowers that we really enjoyed. 2nd time we went about 5 years ago, we didn’t see much of flowers. This time we went all the way from Kona, but decided not to visit bc entrance fee was $20 last time, and this time was $32 and no senior discount. Besides the price, you have to go stairways more than a mile! I have a recently replaced left knee, sciatica and neuropathy. I may be able to go down, but I didn’t think I could come back without an elevator. And no guarantee there would be lots of flowers. So 5 stars for the first time, and 3 stars for this time. If you are young with a healthy body, I would recommend you to visit.

Yes, it’s worth the $27 kama’aina ticket if you’re a gardening or nature enthusiast - but you need to be able to make your way down sometimes steep trails on your own. You can use walking sticks or canes, but wheelchairs, scooters and crutches aren’t allowed in this Onomea Valley garden. You’ll make your way down winding and looping trails fringed by thousands of tropical and subtropical plant species, many of them flowering. There are different sections dedicated to ti, palms, orchids, etc. Nestled in the 20-acre garden is Onomea Falls, but because the Hamakua District has been in a severe drought, the normally cascading waterfall was dried up during our visit. You’ll descend to the valley floor, ending at Onomea Bay, and it’s one of the most picturesque scenes in the Hawaiian Islands - and that’s saying a lot. Walking the trail straight through will take you about an hour and a half, but I suggest bringing a picnic and enjoying it at the bay.

Beautiful walk, great gift shop. Rest rooms up top at the begining of the walk and at the bottom very nice. Got to see Mongoosees, Geekos, bunch of cool animals and the plant life is great.

It's been several years since we have been to these botanical gardens and decided it was well worth a repeat visit! These gardens never disappoint. Though it was a weekend during the holidays and it was busy, they assisted guests with finding parking and the gardens never seemed overcrowded. There are so many beautiful plants, flowers and trees as well as absolutely stunning ocean views at the back! It is so well maintained, well priced and you can spend as long as you want meandering around! Absolutely worth a visit while on the Big Island!

Expensive to access (tickets are way too pricey for locals and tourists), silly hand stamp that signals to the guy across the street you have "paid" will stain your clothes. Guy at the ticket counter is very mouthy with a condescending attitude. It'll be a long while before I save up enough to take my kids back there. Too bad because the place is well planned and maintained with many beautiful specimens.

Free parking, and the views are incredible. I did not even bother to think to only bring the baby carrier. Brought our Doona stroller and probably won't be doing that again. Several stairs throughout the property but definitely accessible. Shoutout to my husband for carrying the car seat down that steep hill in the beginning. The employee at the gate told us to carry it down and that we did. Ocean views are worth every step.

This place is truly magical, especially for plant lovers. The orchid collection is absolutely stunning, with an incredible variety of colors and blooms that feel almost unreal. A well-maintained walkway winds through lush tropical gardens, making it perfect for a relaxing stroll while soaking in the peaceful surroundings. Everywhere you look, something beautiful is growing or in bloom. It's a wonderful place to slow down, take photos, and fully enjoy nature. Whether you're a serious plant enthusiast or just appreciate natural beauty, this spot is unforgettable. You really have to see it for yourself--photos don't do it justice!

We are residents of the Big Island on the Kona coast and for the last 20 years this has been a go to place when we have visitors on island. On February 4 we took visiting friends and were very much disappointed. Whoever is in charge now has dropped the ball on critical considerations like mosquito repellent, which used to be available at the first part of the walk. Even more critical, virtually every display of tropical plants shows signs of inadequate care.

The best botanical garden I have ever been to. When I think of botanical garden, this is what I am expecting! Sooo pretttty. Everything is well taken care of. So much to look at and even learn the native Hawaiian plants! It's a bit of a steep walk down, as well as back up that may be troublesome; highly recommend bringing bug spray! They have some for purchase at the check in area, but it's highly encourage cause you'll get eaten alive. I love the story behind this as someone bought the land and redid the entire area. I couldn't even imagine the work they put into it. So special and so well done. We were there for a good 2 hours. Lots to see. They have it divided up into sections.. there is a waterfall area (but it was dry). There is a beach area you can view too. Everything wraps around. There's also a bathroom down at the end of the loop, but encourage to go before heading down.

Staff is very friendly and helpful. The garden is breathtaking! Got at least a hundred pictures! Great gift shop too! Highly recommended!!!!

Fantastic. This place is a MUST SEE if you love botanical gardens. The entrance is a tad bit steep for those with mobility issues, but it's definitely worth it to check out. How many places you know give you a tour of the tropical canopy while providing fantastic vistas of the oceanfront. Plan on spending an hour or more here.

The staff was exceptionally helpful and friendly. So many beautiful flowers, you could spend a day here if you were relaxed and have the ability to wind down. When you start, it is all down hill, rather steep down hill, but you are walking down a beautifully constructed boarded walkway. Be aware of the hike back up!!!!!! Make sure to hit every nook and cranny. What a beautiful place honoring plant species, including some that are no longer abundant in the wild. For plants extinct in their natural habitat, seeds are banked at this botanical garden.

I wanted to like this place so bad because Hilo is tiny and tbh not much to do there. Unfortunately, our visit to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden in Hilo was less than pleasant. If you're in a wheelchair or have a stroller, I highly advise against visiting. The entrance is incredibly steep both going down and coming up, making it very difficult to navigate. To make matters worse, we were bombarded by mosquitoes the entire time probably about 1000000 of them. We purchased the $16 mosquito spray they sell, but it didn't do anything to help. We ALL were absolutely eaten alive. The entrance fee of $34 felt outrageous for what we experienced. To top it off, the front desk staff was rude and unwelcoming, which really set the tone for the visit. Overall, this was a huge disappointment and I can't recommend it to anyone.

We had not initially planned to come here on our trip, but had time one day and decided to check it out. Thank goodness we did as this one of our favorite things on our trip! It is absolutely worth the $30 admission price. The garden has plenty of parking so we had not problem finding a spot. The staff in the shop and at the start were super friendly and helpful. The first part of the garden is down a steep, paved path but there are stopping points where you can stop to sit for a break. The gardens are beautiful! So many variety of plants and well kept grounds.We saw a lot of geckos too which was was fun to try and spot them. Just when you think the gardens couldn't get any more beautiful, they also go up to the water so you get a beautiful view of the ocean! Overall we spent about an hour or 90 minutes here walking through the gardens and it was an amazing time!

Don't let the high admission price stop you from visiting this breathtaking gem of a botanical garden. You will quickly see that the fees appear to be unwasted on the tender, loving care that this garden seems to receive. We took the well-maintained, easy-to-navigate paved path from the visitor center down through the garden and back and were blown away, as most people are, by the sheer majesty of the place. The only spot where walking is maybe a bit of a challenge is the last stretch of the path back up to the top because of how steep it is, but if you are not a seasoned walker or hiker, no worries. Just take it slow, and you should be fine. As others have said, you really do feel like you stepped into the jungle, and that's because, in a very real sense, that's where you are! But if you read up on the history of the place, you will learn that this didn't just happen out of the blue. A ton of work went into making this place what it is, and I hope you will take a few brief moments to read the signs that explain how it came to be. The views in all directions are absolutely amazing. By that, I don't just mean sweeping views, although there is some of that, especially down by the ocean. I mean looking up and down as well. In some places, you'll feel like you are looking skyward at the vast canopy of the Amazon rain forest, and in other places, you'll feel like you are staring into the miniscule detail of delicate flowers and water features. The incredible nature of God's creation is on nearly full display here, and it is so worth two to four hours of your time to take it all in. The visitor center is pretty small but offers a gift shop, if you're so inclined to purchase a souvenir. (Just FYI: Not everything sold there is made in Hawaii.) There is a restroom along the path if you need it, as well as occasional places to sit and rest. I recommend you bring a water bottle strapped around your shoulder or on your belt. You will want to stay well-hydrated, especially if you are visiting on a muggier day. I highly recommend arriving at opening time, and you'll enjoy the experience much more by avoiding some of the warmer weather. Don't avoid this place, though, just because you don't think you're into "plants." That would be like avoiding the Grand Canyon because you're not really into "rocks." This is more like a wonder of the world than just a garden and will likely impress even those who aren't typically into botany. :)

Bountiful, beautiful and botanical! The number of exotic colors and riot of so much living green delights the eyes. Amazing. Every inch oozes with life and magic. The trail can be steep for some, so be prepared. The bottom has some great views of crashing waves. The power of the Pacific is inspiring, especially on a stormy day. It's a little pricey to get in, but I believe it is worth it. Suggestion: Bring mosquito repellent and an umbrella. The drive through a jungle canopy alone is worth it.

Loved the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden! If you're visiting Big Island this is a must see. The garden is beautiful. There is a nice trail that you go through in a loop, you'll end up close to the ocean. Admission is high, but I think it's worth it. We did this in between visiting Alaska Falls and Rainbow Falls. Make suer to take bug spray because you'll get bites here. I left with 10 bug bites. So much to see!

The garden was a delightful stroll along a looping trail of interesting sights. The beginning of the trail hosts a plethora of unique flowers. Following the flowers are scattered ponds and views of the ocean. Saving the best for last, the trail's finale is an extravagant view of the wild ocean clashing against rocks just below your feet. Highly recommended!

This botanical garden is truly a living art display. Wide assortment of plants to awe over. Take your time as you stroll to carefully view the plants. Otherwise, you may miss seeing the tiny treasures that burst with color and pattern. In our digital age, it's rejuvenating and comforting to see living exhibits crafted by nature. It is healing and soothes the mind. I would suggest wearing mosquito repellent. Kamaaina discounts available.

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is a magical tranquil place with many varieties of tropical plants. The orchids which can be found high in the foliage and along the ground are stunning. The garden abounds in colorful flowers and leaves everywhere! Garden paths guide you to different groups of plant species. There are also coastal paths that lead you along the coastal shoreline. Deep in the back corner of the garden is a waterfall and little river that flows out to the ocean. After completing the self guided tour, you may visit the gift shop for a souvenir or maybe even a plant cutting, to plant in your own garden. This is truly one of the finest botanical gardens I have ever seen.

The botanical garden is gorgeous and worth the price if you enjoy nature and different types of plants. It took us an hour to walk the entire garden. You start off going downhill which is actually very steep, so just remember you eventually have to climb back up! There are signs everywhere in the garden so you'll never get lost. During this self guided tour, you even get to see the ocean. You should definitely wear bug spray while visiting. Even if you think you don't need it, you do!! I have 23 bug bites on just my right leg I didn't think I got bit at all until the next day when I swelled and itched like crazy.

I've been coming to the big island regularly since I went to college here in the early '90's. A lot has changed. My wife and I have been to the botanical gardens before (about 12 years ago), and while it is incredibly beautiful, and I would love to take my family... I cannot possibly justify spending $128 for 2 adults and 2 teenage children to go in. $32/person is just nuts. So much of the islands have become just for the wealthy, and it's incredibly disappointing. It's hard enough spending $30 every time we go to the beach ($10/car and $5/person). There are so many things we just skipped this go round because of it. Thank goodness we have a Costco membership. We can barely afford to come here, and only make the trip about every 10 years. But it's more than likely we'll never be able to come back. The high cost of coming here is one thing, but being banged out for every single thing is too big a deterrent. Unfortunately, I think that's the end goal. They even want us to pay $30 ($10/car-$5/person) for our family to see Rainbow falls now . I mean, come on brah. You can't be serious. That's the "Haole go home" price. Well, message received. I will say, every time I have come to the islands, I would always buy a lot of souvenirs for myself and my friends and family. I've always tried buying stuff without a "Made in China" or Indonesia tag. This time, I bought nothing. I had nothing left to spend after the high cost to get here, the high cost to stay here, and the high cost to do anything, including all the things that used to be free.

This is an easy one - the question obviously not being whether it's gorgeous, but whether it's worth $30 a person to get in, and the answer is, definitely. As soon as you walk in, you're surrounded by all manner of interesting tropical plants from all over the world (most of which I'd never heard of - a few aren't labeled, but the majority are), on a beautiful walk down to the ocean. At the bottom, sweeping vistas of the stream feeding into the ocean, large craggy rocks being pounded by waves, also one protected tide pool area right by the path where a sign pointed out very well camouflaged large crabs that we would otherwise never have seen, but sure enough, there were a bunch of them. Watch out for spiders though - there are also tons of spiders everywhere, which means tons of spider webs everywhere. (Plus side, presumably they're out there catching mosquitos for us.) It is pretty cool that it was just one regular guy who retired and decided to start a bioreserve, so it's also worth the admission in the sense of making sure they have the money to keep running it. We spent a couple hours here,, stopping and taking pictures of everything.

Spectacular decent into what felt like a completely natural tropical landscape. What you learn is that several fauna aren't native. The view of the ocean from this space is nothing short of awe inspiring and powerful.

Amazing experience at this garden! Get ready for a hike when visiting this lush garden, but its WORTH IT. Its a downhill walk that ends at a gorgeous ocean cove with an impressive collection of tropical plants on the route there. We had on mosquito repellant and were fine. I recommend going within the first 30 minutes of opening as it felt like a private visit as we meandered around, by the time we were leaving, there were hoards of people. Warning, that comes with the price of possibly walking into spider webs if you are the first on the trails for the day. I think the low crowds while I was there set up my visit for an immersive experience.

Omg..this place was beautiful. I loved all the floral and different tropical plants. This park was well maintained and offered views at the bottom of the ocean. The ponds also contained large koi fish that were fun to watch. Pro tip: wear hiking type shoes and clothes. There is a steep walk down and then back up. Also, mosquitos are all over. They sell bug spray at the top, but at a premium. It worked tho! Have an amazing visit.

This place was ok, some pretty flowers but honestly I don't believe it was worth the $30 entrance fee to get in. It's not that big so you can see everything in around an hour I guess. There is a parking lot in the front.

My experience at Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden was aggravating. I live in Hawaii with my family and yesterday we decided to drive up the coast to do some sightseeing with one of our relatives visiting Hawaii. Unfortunately, after we walked the Onomea trail, when we tried to start our car, it failed. After waiting 4 hours trying to fix our car and then get a tow truck to come get us, my sister had to go to the bathroom very bad. My sister and I decided to walk to the Botanical Gardens to use the restroom, which was about half a mile through blind corners and next to a cliff. Once we reached the entrance to the Botanical Gardens there were two employees. We approached the employees at the entrance and described that our car was broken down about a half mile back and my sister desperately needed to use the restroom. We were told by the staff that we needed an admission wristband to use the restroom, which is $30. We explained that we didn't have one, and are not intending to explore the gardens, we simply need to use the restroom as we have no other option. The staff told us that there was nothing they could do and suggested that my sister walk into the forest to relieve herself... we were shocked. The staff then clarified that my sister could only enter certain parts of the forest/ jungle, as most of it was private property. I, and my family are beyond shocked by the lack of empathy from these workers. To suggest my sister do her buissness in the jungle, while it's raining, on the edge of fatal cliffs, while knowing we have NO other option to reaching another restroom, is ridiculous. The staff showed no kindness or consideration for our situation and completely dismissed us as human beings. My sister eventually had to enter the jungle to do what she had to do. She described that there were several man sized holes in the ground to which she couldn't see the bottom of, and that while she was going there were many spiders crawling on her. I am sickened by what the employees of Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens made my sister endure. Thankfully she and I made it back safe. We walked a half mile back to our car, waited another hour for the tow truck, soaking wet, and eventually figured our situation out. Thank you Botanical Gardens for making our terrible situation so much worse. (Extreme sarcasm)

The most beautiful flowers and such a well organized bio reserve!! I was hesitant to pay 25$ per person for admission given all the natural plants you can see around the island but this was well worth it for me. We spent about 1.5 hours there with 31 different stops. The flowers were breathtaking and there were also nice waterfalls and ocean views. Most of it was well shaded and not too hot which made it even more enjoyable. The road getting there was a bit narrow and windy but well worth it!

PSA: TONS OF MOSQUITOES! I absolutely enjoyed spending about 2 hours here on December 21, 2024. The Big Island is a lot less lush than Oahu's windward side, so I was looking forward to checking out this garden. It's as green as I expect when I think of Hawai'i. It has an awe-inspiring walkway down the side of a hill to the beach. I wasn't expecting the walking route to be on an incline, but at a slow pace, it's easily doable and not tough. The views are astounding, and most of my favorite trip photos are from this place. However, I got about 17 bug bites during my 2-hour visit. The gift shop sells bug spray for $16, but I declined. I wish I'd thought to bring some! Yes, I definitely recommend checking out this garden if you love tropical plants.

Full disclosure, I am not that into plants and flowers etc...this was a birthday experience for my friend during our girls trip! But...WOWZA! THIS PLACE IS JUST INCREDIBLE!!!! It's like walking in a tropical rainforests! Founder Dan Lutekenhouse Sr, purchased this 17 acre parcel and turned it into paradise! I would go back. And that coming from me, says a lot! They are in the process of building a butterfly sanctuary. My photos don't do this place justice. My friend was soooo happy and this is one place you need to stop when you are in Hilo! Make sure you wear comfortable shoes and put on some bug repellent. The path is paved, but the walk back up is a bit steep, but it is all worth it!!!!!

If you are on island do yourself a favor and check this place out. Second favor you need to do is buy bug spray when they offer it when you are buying your tickets. I asked and figured nah I will be fine....apparently I am a delicacy for the bugs there and they were all over me. There is some parking, but it was not too crowded when we went. It was raining a bit so I bought a poncho, but in retrospect I should have just let it rain on me as I was sweating underneath it and that attracted more bugs and I finally just took it off. There are paved pathways that take you around to see different trees, plants, and scenic views such as waterfalls and the ocean. It is a good place to go for a leisurely walk to enjoy nature with no real stressful hiking areas. Ensure to be careful on your way down and back up as it can get slippery if it has rained.

I have loved, shared and recommended this lovely peaceful garden for many years. Us locals are very pleased to take our guest here savor the beauty and quiet it brings. In September I took 4 women who had planned and looked forward to finally getting to see and experience what I've been touting for so long. When we walked only a little way down the slop a very loud, screeching and grating noise came from heavy machinery carving and grading the sloping cliff near the path. The machinery kept up the whole time we were there and spoiled the otherwise peaceful calm and beauty of the garden. I called and talked to a manager and she was very unfriendly, un empathetic, and defensive with this being brought to her attention. The public should have been told that this grading, digging, chopping was going on that day and as we might want to rearrange our plans for another day. I'm always proud of the way most people are to each other on this island showing love, caring and the Aloha spirt to locals and guests alike, but that wasn't the case here. I don't think we'll be back.

Gorgeous location but amazing plant life. The hill down is steep. Plan accordingly. I was very impressed with the garden as a whole with two caveats- one- no place to refill water so be aware of that and make sure to bring your own and two- mosquito heaven! A third is more of an irritation- changing 13+ as an adult seems very unreasonable.

No matter how many times we visit we're always blown away by how beautiful everything is here. You'll want to budget at least an hour, and it'll probably be more like two hours. Be sure to wear bug spray, seriously- I tend to forget and this past visit I left with about twenty itchy "souvenirs". Our favorite game while we're there is to see how many geckos we can spot while we're taking in all the plants and flowers. Last visit we spotted 23 and it was so fun trying to take photos of them before they ran off. You'll see all sorts of native and non-native plants here as well as some beautiful views of the ocean. Be sure to read all the signage for more information on plants, statues, landmarks and more. There is a bathroom inside the botanical garden but we recommend using the one up at the gift shop before you head in. I can't wait to visit again on our next visit.

A lovely way to spend the afternoon. The garden is beautiful - stunning collection of plants and flowers, plus some waterfalls and ocean views. We brought out three year old and she had a great time wandering along the different paths. The garden is also pretty stroller friendly. The first section kiddos can't ride in the stroller because it's steep and there are a couple short sections with stairs, but we were able to carry our travel stroller up and down without trouble. The $30 ticket felt a little high at first, but we felt we got our money's worth in the end and would definitely go back.

This is a beautiful and very special place, and worth the steep admission to enter to see such a variety of tropical plants and trees. Yes, the beginning is a steep slope, but there are handrails and benches so if someone in your party uses a walking stick it should be okay if they go slowly. After the initial steepness there are paved paths and some stairs here and there. A couple of warnings: if you don't have bug spray to put on when you arrive, there is a soft sell to buy a bottle of theirs for $16, which is a steep upsell, imho. For the $32 per adult admission price, I suggest including a couple of spritzes of bug spray, but that's not the way it works here. We opted out of buying the bottle of spray, and we didn't get bites, though we did see mosquitoes in some parts of the visit. Also, this may not be an easy time if you bring tots or preschoolers. We observed families with strollers struggling to push it and get up and down stairs. Also, there's no hands-on learning, so we saw little ones being hot and bored. There is a strict request for visitors to not touch anything. Kids old enough to take in the majestic scale of trees and plants and all the beautiful flowers were fine.

Hello, jungle heaven! At one point when walking through the garden, it felt like we were in a magical snow globe (except made of foliage hovering way above us)... it's all so expansive, tall, and incredible. I loved the part overlooking the ocean too. If you want a tranquil place to see cool local tropical plants, you'll love this botanical garden. Even when it's sunny and hot, it's comfortable thanks to all that shade. You can really take your time enjoying the garden paths. The admission price was $30 per person... I think it's $10 less for HI residents. For tourists, I'd say it's not cheap but worth the price at least once to check it out! PS. Don't forget your bug spray -- I forgot and had to use Tiger Balm as a bug repellent because the mosquitoes were out and feasting on me.

I'm a little nature girl. I cant go on a walk without me pointing at, taking a photo of, talking incessantly about all of the plants and animals that I am seeing. The people who decided to create a bioreserve and garden were clearly my type of people. Get your camera ready and your eyes ready to be delighted. Its Hawaii, so of course you're going to be getting one of the greatest flora and fauna shows you could dream of. Wear something with a hood because it can just pour rain down on you at any moment. I don't even know where to start. My favorite flower is the orchid. Specifically the white orchid but there are so many colors and sizes or orchids all through out. It was a mesmerizing experience to see orchids just growing from the side of a tree. There is something to see everywhere. Mangos may even fall on you at one point in the trail. There may or may not be a wary little mongoose running across your path too. You can walk out to the edge of the ocean. Its a sight to behold to go from seemingly deep rainforest jungle to the edge of the rocky Pacific Ocean coast. I couldn't get enough. The history of the bioreserve is very interesting. There are graves near the shore that indicate the lives of people who lived here many, many years past. The originator of the garden really took incredible care at every turn for future generations to appreciate what they clearly had a vision of. I'm here for it.

What an amazing botanical garden; even at $30 admission, you get a beautiful, clean, uncrowded, low key stroll through amazing, lush, curated botanical garden. They even have scented orchids; you gotta find them yourself! Many different walking paths are available; some hilly requiring a good work out. Customer service: excellent. Tiny mosquito's may be there.

This was our favorite part of our trip to the Big Island! Definitely worth the drive from Kona. Beautiful plants and loved the history of how this place came to be. They have bug spray wipes (DEET and DEET-free) for purchase when you go to buy your ticket! Beautiful views of the ocean - we were going to walk to Onomea Bay Trail after our visit, but you get to see the bay from the botanical garden, so that was a wonderful surprise!

This is must-see if you visit Hilo. It is 10 stars on a 5 star scale. There are no words to describe how beautiful the garden is, so I'll post a lot of photos instead. The price is $25 for an adult which sounds high to look at a garden but it is worth it. Kids under 6 are free. Parking is free. There is a small gift shop. We spent about 2 hours walking the 1.25 mile circle but we could have spent much longer. Bring mosquito spray! Don't count on your cell phone working. This garden is truly one of the true treasures of the Hilo area.

Really great staff. Amazingly and beautiful. Recommend to everyone Amazingly huge trees. Beautiful coast portion. Lots of small waterfalls.

THIS PLACE IS BEAUTIFUL!!! We visited this place recently to take photos, and we were so amazed by it's beauty. It's a drive if your coming from Kona, but I definitely think it's worth it if you are into the beauty of Hawaii's nature. So green and plenty of pretty flowers to see. There is a fee to go in, but out of all the gardens I've seen in Hawaii--this is the best so far. There is parking available. Once you get that map, it seems really long. Don't fret, there's plenty of stops to sit and towards the end is by the ocean to cool down. It does loop around too. Definitely a must see when your in Hilo.

Had to check out the botanical garden in the Big Island. Here was our experience. EXPERIENCE: Parking: Two plazas, I can see it getting busy on the weekend so plan accordingly. Feels: It's a 15 - 20 minute drive from Hilo. You drive up the road with a few curves here and there. Once you enter it's a long trail of steps with a decline (so prepare for the incline going up). The garden itself is beautiful. Very green with nice waterfalls and the view of the ocean. There are great informational plaques to read and learn and sitting spots to just sit and be present. Plants: An eclectic variety. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. From flowers to fruits, they all complement each other, beautiful aesthetics. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Awesome! Friendly rangers and pretty knowledgeable. OVERALL: 4.5 Stars. Lovely! I had a pleasant experience here. I learned a lot, I saw plenty of unique plants, and great photo ops. For all the nature information, this is a great spot to learn and appreciate the nature of the Aina. Tips: * Plan accordingly and make sure in for a hike, those steps entering the botanical can be steep.

Although pricey and limited military discount, the gardens are absolutely beautiful and worth the stop to stroll around and see some magnificent flowers, plants and trees. If you're into photography, you're in for a treat!! There is also a really nice view of the pacific. It may rain, as it's on the Hilo side, so be prepared.

There are not enough stars in the world to rate this place. This place holds the ancestors of all my houseplants on steroids! Seriously I had to pick my mouth off the ground numerous times. PRO TIP: Get the bugspray or bring some yourself because the bug life is NOT the business. When you purchase your ticket, you are given a map with suggested route to take to see EVERYTHING in the Garden. NOTE: as you enter you will descend down a steep pier/walkway take your time going both up and down it. The entire time you are surrounded by amazing lush green views that will take your breath away. The waterfall was first stop and breath-taking. Twin rocks view was stunning Tiki statue was fun I cannot say enough about this place- I probably could have stayed here all day. Secretly i with i had brought some clipper and went into a propagating frenzy but I know that is frowned upon.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to shell out the $30/person for entry, but I'm glad I did. The grounds are absolutely beautiful and it's just such an amazing property. Definitely seems like a labor of love.

The best botanical garden that we have visited. The whole center was very well kept and the sites were just amazing! Loved the stroll, the water falls, the koi pond, and the views of the ocean. Definitely a must see.

Definitely worth a visit and it was a top-3 activity for me. They have abundant parking available and you can pick up tickets at the manned kiosk in the parking lot. The entrance is right across the street. The only strenuous part of the park is the ramp going up and down directly from the entrance. It's a wooden ramp. But once you get past it, it's pretty easy walking. I took my time exploring and spent around 2 hours. The map they provide you is easy to follow. I was considering doing the Onomea Bay Trail nearby, but there are multiple views of Onomea Bay long the way. There is so much to see and it is totally worth the price of admission.

We returned to this attraction after 12 years, last visiting it in 2013. Most of it is the same amazing eye candy and photography treasure trove, but some of it has changed. The first thing is going down a long and very steep ramp, which means you have a very steep and long uphill climb to get out. In 2013, they had someone at the bottom with a golf cart to assist the inform or elderly get up the ramp. They apparently no longer do that. Being in good health, but 70 years old, I still would have liked that option. The variety of plants does seem to slipped a little bit, relying too much on orchids and heliconia. We remembered large areas of antherium. They seem to have added some paths which loop back on themselves for more display area, and they have lost the long path along Onomea Bay. It is still well worth the entrance fee and a great memory, though it seems to have become a bit long in the tooth.

This place is absolutely gorgeous. Price is $25 per person but it's worth it! Total about 1-1.5 mile walk but it's relatively easy besides the steep incline/decline when you enter. I went with sandals and was completely fine. Bit of bugs so maybe bring bud repellent or long sleeves. Best past is the location where you see the ocean. Great picture moments. I followed the numbered path on the map and it really helps hit everything. Took about 1.5 hours for me to go through everything while taking ton of pictures. One of my favorite activities on the big island.