Koko Crater Botanical Garden

Easy walk inside the crater. It’s free and you get to see beautiful flowers and species around the world. There is a pamphlet at the entrance that provides a map and detail about the various plants. We chose to do this as it was too hot to hike the actual crater and wanted some shade. It was advertised as 90 minutes hike but took us considerably less time. We didn’t run either.
Could be a good family activity.
There was a park attendant in a lawn chair reading a newspaper at the entrance when we visited. Car was safe.

This is an easy, free two mile loop walk through plumeria groves, cacti, loulu palms, and many other plants in a volcanic crater. You can see dryland plants that you won’t see at the other Honolulu botanical gardens and some that you won’t see elsewhere on this island. Bring your own water and use the bathroom before you come. Don’t forget to grab a trail map at the entrance so you know where everything is.

Too hot got heat rash, many plants to look at and take pictures of. I think would be good for a photo shoot for engagements. Car was safe, no break ins. Would go back in winter or cooler days, cloudy.
Plants look well taken cared of. Not much of a crowd so good for romantic walks. Mostly gravel trail. I think we ran into only 5 people the whole time. I’ll go back to walk the whole trail next time.

I love hiking, but when I’m feeling particularly sluggish or I’m showing the area to a newbie, I want to have a beautiful and not too challening hike to fall back on. That is when I inevitably choose Koko Garden.
Located behind a golf course in a residential area, this garden is free to the public and has quite a bit of parking if you get there early. I feel better about leaving my car there because they have a park person at the gate, and I think it deters any hooligans.
The walk/​hike is easy, partly shaded, and gorgeous, and spans regions with plants from all over the world. It can get muddy or dusty, and there are definitely mosquitos, so plan accordingly.
Depending on when you go, the field of plumeria trees may be in bloom, and I swear the different flowers have distinctly different scents! There is a section with trees straight out of a Dr Seuss book, and a very impressive cactus garden despite the tropical climate.
Free, beautiful, not too challenging, and informative, this garden is not to miss in the Koko area, and MUCH easier than Kokohead. Perfect for families, visitors, and those trying to work off a hefty sunday morning brunch.

After spending almost two weeks at the 35^th Annual Hawaii International Film Festival, I was itching to get out of the house and do something outdoors. I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do but I knew I wanted it not to involve seeing five to six movies in one day and gorging myself on movie theater popcorn. With that in mind, after entering a variety of search options into Google, Unilocal and who knows how many other search engines we ended up here.
First and foremost I will tell you do NOT use Unilocal for directions. After clicking the «Directions» option on the mobile app, the Unilocal app in its infinite wisdom told us basically that once we got onto Kalanianaole Highway to drive 5.8 miles and then park our car and walk. Needless to say this was not correct. Thankfully we had other means of navigation and arrived in one piece without getting lost or being directed to turn left into the ocean (yes, that has also happened).
If you’re not paying attention, you’ll likely miss the parking lot since it is not well marked, so keep your eyes peeled. Parking is pretty ample and free in a dirt parking lot. Also on the property is the Koko Crater Equestrian Center so you can kill two birds with one stone and go horseback riding and take a nature walk as well if you plan your day properly.
We went at a bad time of year so we weren’t able to fully enjoy the plumeria trees, but the Koko Crater Botanical Garden boasts a large selection of plumeria trees that when in full bloom are nothing short of breathtaking. We also really enjoyed the cactus and taking in the plants from around the world and those indigenous to Hawaii, etc.
All in all walking the botanical garden took us about two hours total. It is an easy walk with a lot of shaded areas, but I would recommend bringing sun screen and water. There are no restroom facilities on site other than a random port-​o-​potty in the middle of one of the gardens, so keep that in mind when planning your day.
We will be back again when the plumerias are in full bloom. Definitely worth a visit.

Super disappointing. Granted, we did visit in Fall, so maybe that’s why there weren’t a lot of flowers or pretty plants/​bushes/​trees. Did the two mile circle so at least I got some exercise out of the deal. And I did get to see up to the top where I’d hiked a few weeks prior.
Wouldn’t return even though it’s free.

Great for kids! Free, safe parking, lots of shade and only 2 miles of pretty easy terrain. Can be muddy if there were recent rains. Great even if the plumeria aren’t in bloom, but at its best when they are.

I went there with my two kids under 5 for a hike in the middle of the day. It was not as hot as I expected since the trail had a fair amount of shade. There are plenty of benches to rest on. The whole trail is about 2 miles but there are other detours around the garden that if you take the wrong turn, you can be doing circles if not paying attention. It’s a good trail for trail running! Lots of pretty plumerias, bouganvilleas, and cactus! It’s a very quite trail, we only saw a few people but pretty much felt alone on this trail.

This is a hidden jewel, so easy to hike or if u like to challenge your runs its perfect cardio. Dry trail but don’t run too fast you might miss the African section. There are bathroom along the trail but no water fountain so bring lots of H2O. It’s perfect for children. I’m so lucky this place it’s only 5 minutes from home, my husband and I go there to train, best part is that is free. Plus if you want to ride horses the stables are 10 feet away. Horse ridding is not free but inexpensive.

Loved this hike! 2 mile loop inside the Koko Crater, right next to the horse stables, is full of unique and pretty plants from all over the world. You enter in by a huge plumeria grove, that when bloom is breathtaking! I loved the Africa section of the plants as well with the cool appearance of the trees. The shade here is very sporadic, so unless you go early in the day make sure you sunscreen up. At the beginning are maps inside a little mailbox to tell you where you are going and what you are seeing, but make sure to put it back when you are done. There are limited quantities. Follow the directions from the website, if you try and put the address in your gps normally it will take you to the Hanauma Bay side of the crater and that won’t get you anywhere. Entrances is around the backside by the golf course. Beginner hike with some incline/​steep/​slippery parts in the trail. Great for kids! parking lot is small so park well so everyone has a chance to get in.

A hidden botanical garden and mini hike. There wasn’t much flower blooming because it’s still the beginning of spring. This area is huge. There are different section of plants (America, Dryland, Africa, Madagascar, Hawaiian). In the beginning, there are a lot of plumeria and bougainvillea groves. The color of the flowers are beautiful. In the back are cactus plants, palm trees, aloe plants, and etc. The back is mostly green and brownish area, it’s still quite beautiful. Reminds me of Arizona… the desert.
It’s nice that they have signs so we know which way to go and what kind of plants they are. Which ever way you go, you’ll end up back on track. It’s like a loop trail. It took us around an hour or so… but we stopped to do some photo shoot.
Parking is right in front of the garden. It’s a dirt and rocky parking. Admission is free. Security guard greets you in the front. There’s a map/​brochure in the front by the map directory stand. It’s inside the mailbox. We didn’t know about it until we finished the hike and saw a lil boy opened it, putting the brochure back in. It’s an easy hike, but it’s better to wear shoes because it’s not a paved road. Put on sunscreen because my bf got a tan. A lot of mosquitoes, so don’t forget mosquito repellent. I’m not too sure if there’s a bathroom but might be a portal potty.
Will be back when flowers are in season. I bet it will be really amazing.

Beautiful views. I only got to walk around half the area so I would like to go back a see what else I missed. The area is very relaxing. There is even a camping area. It’s free to get in so if you are in the area and looking for an easy hike, check it out.
And bring bug spray.

I love the outdoors and botanical gardens are a great way to get out and see a large variety of plant life. That and this garden is in an inactive volcano… well I just had to go.
The Good:
— Wide variety of plant life from the cactus to African plants to Hawaiian plants.
— Large plumeria garden. Best see this in the spring, summer, or fall. There are no leaves or blossoms in the winter.
— The trail is about a 2 mile loop over easy terrain. There is one place through the Madagascar section that is overgrown, but you can take a short cut down a hill and reach another section of the trail.
— There are some picnic tables in the plumeria garden that would be a great spot to rest when they are in bloom.
— The trail is mostly shaded, so sunscreen is not a must.
— FREE!
The Not So Good:
— There is only one outhouse for a restroom and it is located in the garden just past the plumerias.
— Because it is free, the landscape is not as well-​kept as other places. That being said, it is still very good.
Bottom Line: come during the summer or fall when things are in bloom. It really was quite dead-​looking when we went during the winter. It would have so much more life if in bloom. Otherwise it is a very nice, easy, 2 mile walk that just about anyone can do.
Website:

Super 2 mile loop hike around the inside of Koko Head’s Crater. Part of the Honolulu Parks system but without any facilities on site. Easy to get to and the dirt parking lot had plenty of spaces for our mid-​day arrival. Handouts available at the trail head with easy to find corresponding numbers describe the plant types, history, and uses. Complete walk, stopping to read every description with a picnic lunch half way took us two hours. Recommend sunscreen and water and insect repellent for the mosquitoes that lurk beneath the picnic benches. Quiet and enjoyable, completely sheltered by the walls of the crater, it feels a bit like another world. Nothing steep, nothing strenuous, good for all ages. Loose rocks on the trail causing slippage would be the only cause for any concern.

Dry crater garden with handy fliers in a mailbox with a map and self-​guided tour. Small parking lot and a security guard (?) sitting near the entrance.
Very fun to see the different trees and flowering bushes. The path is very uneven so wear hiking boots rather than slippers if you have the choice.
We went on a cloudy day but bring a hat and water if you go when it’s sunny! Allow maybe an hour for the 2-​mile loop.

I really liked Koko Crater Botanical Garden. I arrived mid-​morning prior to a scheduled trail ride at Koko Crater Stables, which is adjacent to the Gardens (and yes, if you’re curious, I reviewed the Stables, too). This is a nice self-​guided walk through different «regions» and some of the plants, trees, and flowers that are respective to those areas.
In the middle of Koko Crater, it was VERY hot. There wasn’t much breeze. I was sweating almost immediately after getting out of my car. Make sure to bring water and sunscreen!
Pick up a guide from a black mailbox near the head of the trail. This guide helps explain what you’re looking at.
The trail was very nicely maintained, but a lot of the plants and trees seemed a little… er…lifeless. It wasn’t ALL dead, but some things were wilted and weeping. It was definitely VERY dry in here. The crater as a backdrop for the cacti in the Americas section was a pretty cool photo op, though.
There’s a port-​a-​potty near the start of the trail, but no facilities other than that.
I did this one alone, and I like that I can suggest it as a solo trail. It isn’t «hiking.» It isn’t flat, it’s definitely uneven in some parts, but there are no real inclines and no drop-​offs, so it’s pretty safe. Overall, it was a nice stroll through the gardens, though hot, it was super relaxing and enjoyable, and gave me a nice chance to just clear my mind in the peace and quiet. I think I only passed 2 – 3 other people my entire time here.

It is sad that it took me so long to finally make it here considering I live in the same neighborhood.
I walked around the perimeter and the walk took about a little over an hour. Mostly dirt and rocks, infact it’s all dirt and rocks here with beautiful trees and cactus through out. There are different sections (i.e. American plants, Hawaiian plants, African plants).
The parking lot is small (unpaved, no marked stalls but can fit roughly about 8 — 10 vehicles. There is one port-​a-​potty near in the beginning of the trail (you need to actually start the trail — about 2 minute walk in you’ll see it on your right underneath a tree).
It’s a beatiful grounds and you will definitely sweat a little here (didn’t help I went in the middle of the day when it’s the hottest). Just bring your bottle of water, use the bathroom before you arrive and don’t go in if you need assistance from a walker, cane, or wheelchair.
Plus, they are open everyday (except Christmas day and New Years day) from sunrise to sunset.

I’m obsessed with flowers and trees and in my daily quest to discover more, I visited Koko Crater Botanical Garden one Saturday morning with my boyfriend.
The garden is so large and expansive. You can even see just how big it is while hiking up the Koko Crater tramway, as the garden is located right in the crater! Of course, if you’d rather stay on lower ground, the two mile loop around the garden and all the paths within the park can entertain you for a couple of hours too.
There are maps at the entrance, and they are so worth grabbing! On the map, you can see what sections of the garden are coming up and what plant life is planted there. There are many notable plants that are numbered along the trail and the signs for the plants themselves are numbered as well so it’s easy to find them if you’re curious. I love this about the botanical gardens here. I love reading about the plants and being able to see it right in front of me in real life at the same time.
There are many types of plumeria here. There are also cacti so big it almost makes you feel like you’re in a desert somewhere and not in Hawaii! There are also many other large, beautiful trees, interesting fruit-​bearing trees, and a section of gorgeous palms as well.
It is very hot here, so I would recommend coming early. If you are young or old, this is a very low intensity, relaxing walk through a beautiful garden and also a great learning experience if you grab the brochure to read too. I would also highly recommend photographers come out to practice their skills as the environment just makes for some amazing photographs, with its awesome plant life and the mountain looming overhead. Best of all, it’s free!

We ended up in the quaint botanical garden at the end of our Koko crater rim hike!
I’m not usually a person who likes to walk around and look at flowers but I was glad we got to walk through. There is a 2 mile loop trail for those runners and walkers that was really beautiful and calming. However, your pets are not allowed.
The best section was the sections with all the different plumerias! They were gorgeous and the ground was just carpeted with fragrant, fragile blossoms.
Although parts are in the shade, bring sunscreen and bug repellent for a more comfortable visit.
Great place to bring visitors or go for a quick workout!

By far our most favorite botanical garden! We loved how natural the trail was (definitely recommend walking shoes), how many different types of plants were available to see, and the fact that there was a cactus garden! As others have mentioned, it doesn’t seem as «developed» as other botanical gardens, but I think that’s what makes it unique. :)
I recommend getting the map at beginning (brochures located inside mailbox by entrance). Bring water, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent! Next time, the hubby and I will bring our lunch because there are plenty of picnic tables throughout the trail to sit and enjoy the scenery. We also enjoyed the fact that it is located INSIDE Koko crater. :)
Oh and best part: FREE PARKING AND ADMISSION