What to See In Honolulu

[freakypalmguy]

Hi all,

My work now has me heading to the islands frequently, and will be in Honolulu tomorrow, staying at the Sheraton Kaiulani. Other than the usual activities, surfing, snorkeling, etc., any advice on gardens to see while I'm there, public or private?

Thank you,

Matt

[bgl]

Wow, Matt, this is great! When's the Big Island on the agenda? And how much time do you have in Honolulu? The top three choices as far as I'm concerned:

Ho'omaluhia on the windward side of Oahu (overlooking Kaneohe). Very easy access with a road going down the middle of this absolutely outstanding botanical garden. You need AT LEAST a few hours here, preferably either a full morning OR afternoon.

Lyon Arboretum at the upper end of Manoa Valley (much closer to Waikiki). Difficult access to the palms. You have to hike up into the rainforest. VERY different from Ho'omaluhia. You can certainly spend a full morning OR afternoon here as well.

Foster Botanical Garden in downtown Honolulu. Easy to get to, easy to walk around. I think the whole place is about 10 acres. Two hours or so and you'll have it covered.

I'm assuming 1) you have limited time and 2) you'll be coming back. So don't try to cover both Ho'omaluhia and Lyon on the same day, or the same visit.

[Wai`anae Steve]

Hi all,

My work now has me heading to the islands frequently, and will be in Honolulu tomorrow, staying at the Sheraton Kaiulani. Other than the usual activities, surfing, snorkeling, etc., any advice on gardens to see while I'm there, public or private?

Thank you,

Matt

Bo, you took the words out of my mouth. There is also the Koko Crater Botanical Garden, sort of a dryland desert garden, but there are a lot of palms. Lot's of Pritchardias also.

[palm student]

Hi Matt,

There are many public gardens to see. On the Kaehoe side is Ho O Maluhia--a beautiful palm garden. Foster Botanical Garden is smaller but one of the oldest with many unusual palms. It is down town Honolulu near the freeway.

There is the garden out Punahou street--Lyon Botanic garden.. Get directions and take mosquito spray. There is another one in a more desert area. I forget the name. You might call the Parks Department and they can tell you.

When the IPS had the Biennial in Hawaii we saw another garden on the windward side further north. I'm sorry but don't remember the name. Perhaps Bo Lundqvist can tell you. There used to be a walk high above Aiea called the Medicine garden. It was not palms but a teriffic hike with other trees and plants.

Don't forget the tourist sites such as the Pali Lookout. Then there is the Valley of the temples on the windward side. And a vist to the Arizona Memorial is worth the time. Go early. Might Mo-The Missouri Battleship is also open for tours.

Have a wonderfull time.

Palm Student

[bgl]

I believe the garden that Sue is referring to is Waimea Falls Park. Technically not on the windward side, but on the North Shore, about halfway between Haleiwa and the northern tip of Oahu. And you can hit the Pali Lookout on your way to Ho'omaluhia! Sounds like a full schedule!

[JasonD]

Wahiawa in the center of the island on the way to the North Shore has the most mature collection of native HI Pritchardias I've seen anywhere and tons of other spectacular palm species (perfect Pigafettas and Lytocaryums, for example). It's a bit spooky but looked better cared-for when I saw it again last year. Maybe an hour drive from Waikiki.

http://www.honolulu.gov/parks/hbg/#wahiawa

Waimea Valley Arboretum is very extensive with many palms and HI natives. Less rainy than Lyon, Wahiawa & Ho'omaluhia, but not as dry as Koko Crater. It's the farthest from Waikiki; allow 1.5h+ to drive there.

http://www.waimeavalley.org/collect.html

O'ahu has the most outrageous collection of public botanical gardens of any 600-square-mile place on earth, I think.

[DoomsDave]

Whereever you go, and whatever you do, take plenty of pictures . . . .

And post them here!

[freakypalmguy]

Thank you Bo, Steve, Suzanne, Jason, and Dave for the great suggestions. I will be going back with some regularity now, so I will have plenty of time to see all of the above and more. Most of my layovers will be 24hrs, but some are 36, 48, and even and occasional 3 days plus. Most of the longer layovers will be out of the reach of my seniority, but I might be able to snag one occasionally.

This last trip turned into a bust, as the jet broke in LA just as we were about to take off and had to return to the gate to be fixed, so my layover ended up not being long enough to do anything but walk around Waikiki

On my way from the hotel (Sheraton Princess Kaiulani) I saw what appeared to be a botanical garden on the south side of the freeway, would that be Foster?

Thank you again everyone, I will definitely take many pictures when I go back.

Matt

[PalmGuyWC]

Matt,

So you were complaining the other day about your arss getting bumped around landing in the storm in LAX, and now you have some nice layovers in Honolulu. Somehow I can't feel very sorry for you right now. Hey, maybe you can look for some Coconut pollen while your there, maybe some other exotic pollens too. Have fun.

Dick

[bgl]

Matt,

well better luck next time! At least you're going to come back on a regular basis, and if you end up with a 48 hour stop, think of a quick trip to the Big Island. And, yes, you probably passed by Foster. If you were on the H-1 Freeway, coming from Waikiki, you'd have Foster on the left, adjacent to H-1. This is just a couple of miles after leaving Waikiki.

Bo-Göran

[Wai`anae Steve]

Thank you Bo, Steve, Suzanne, Jason, and Dave for the great suggestions. I will be going back with some regularity now, so I will have plenty of time to see all of the above and more. Most of my layovers will be 24hrs, but some are 36, 48, and even and occasional 3 days plus. Most of the longer layovers will be out of the reach of my seniority, but I might be able to snag one occasionally.

This last trip turned into a bust, as the jet broke in LA just as we were about to take off and had to return to the gate to be fixed, so my layover ended up not being long enough to do anything but walk around Waikiki

On my way from the hotel (Sheraton Princess Kaiulani) I saw what appeared to be a botanical garden on the south side of the freeway, would that be Foster?

Thank you again everyone, I will definitely take many pictures when I go back.

Matt

Yup, Foster Garden is on the MAKAI side of the H-1. Oh, MAKAI means toward the ocean. MAUKA toward the mountains.

[bgl]

Steve, you're confusing the malihini!

[Jeff Searle]

Hi Matt,

There are many public gardens to see. On the Kaehoe side is Ho O Maluhia--a beautiful palm garden. Foster Botanical Garden is smaller but one of the oldest with many unusual palms. It is down town Honolulu near the freeway.

There is the garden out Punahou street--Lyon Botanic garden.. Get directions and take mosquito spray. There is another one in a more desert area. I forget the name. You might call the Parks Department and they can tell you.

When the IPS had the Biennial in Hawaii we saw another garden on the windward side further north. I'm sorry but don't remember the name. Perhaps Bo Lundqvist can tell you. There used to be a walk high above Aiea called the Medicine garden. It was not palms but a teriffic hike with other trees and plants.

Don't forget the tourist sites such as the Pali Lookout. Then there is the Valley of the temples on the windward side. And a vist to the Arizona Memorial is worth the time. Go early. Might Mo-The Missouri Battleship is also open for tours.

Have a wonderfull time.

Palm Student

Matt,

I was just out there this past August and went to all three gardens. All well worth the time to visit. And like Suzanne said, if you have time, certainly go to Pearl Harbor. Have a great trip!

Jeff

[freakypalmguy]

Matt,

So you were complaining the other day about your arss getting bumped around landing in the storm in LAX, and now you have some nice layovers in Honolulu. Somehow I can't feel very sorry for you right now. Hey, maybe you can look for some Coconut pollen while your there, maybe some other exotic pollens too. Have fun.

Dick

Hi Dick,

Somehow I knew you wouldn't feel sorry for me.

I was looking at the Cocos for pollen, but all that I saw in Waikiki, were stripped clean, not to mention super tall. There was one out my hotel window on the 8th floor with an unopened spathe, I thought, "If I tied the sheets together, I could just lasso that sucker and pull it to my balcony, naaaaa" )

Take care,

Matt

[freakypalmguy]

Matt,

well better luck next time! At least you're going to come back on a regular basis, and if you end up with a 48 hour stop, think of a quick trip to the Big Island. And, yes, you probably passed by Foster. If you were on the H-1 Freeway, coming from Waikiki, you'd have Foster on the left, adjacent to H-1. This is just a couple of miles after leaving Waikiki.

Bo-Göran

Thank you Bo, we also fly to Kona (Maui and Lihue too) so hopefully I can get some layovers their and come and visit you.

Matt

[freakypalmguy]

Thank you Bo, Steve, Suzanne, Jason, and Dave for the great suggestions. I will be going back with some regularity now, so I will have plenty of time to see all of the above and more. Most of my layovers will be 24hrs, but some are 36, 48, and even and occasional 3 days plus. Most of the longer layovers will be out of the reach of my seniority, but I might be able to snag one occasionally.

This last trip turned into a bust, as the jet broke in LA just as we were about to take off and had to return to the gate to be fixed, so my layover ended up not being long enough to do anything but walk around Waikiki

On my way from the hotel (Sheraton Princess Kaiulani) I saw what appeared to be a botanical garden on the south side of the freeway, would that be Foster?

Thank you again everyone, I will definitely take many pictures when I go back.

Matt

Yup, Foster Garden is on the MAKAI side of the H-1. Oh, MAKAI means toward the ocean. MAUKA toward the mountains.

Hi Steve, thank you for the tip on the lingo and Foster, I'll definitely make it there next time.

Matt

[freakypalmguy]

Hi Matt,

There are many public gardens to see. On the Kaehoe side is Ho O Maluhia--a beautiful palm garden. Foster Botanical Garden is smaller but one of the oldest with many unusual palms. It is down town Honolulu near the freeway.

There is the garden out Punahou street--Lyon Botanic garden.. Get directions and take mosquito spray. There is another one in a more desert area. I forget the name. You might call the Parks Department and they can tell you.

When the IPS had the Biennial in Hawaii we saw another garden on the windward side further north. I'm sorry but don't remember the name. Perhaps Bo Lundqvist can tell you. There used to be a walk high above Aiea called the Medicine garden. It was not palms but a teriffic hike with other trees and plants.

Don't forget the tourist sites such as the Pali Lookout. Then there is the Valley of the temples on the windward side. And a vist to the Arizona Memorial is worth the time. Go early. Might Mo-The Missouri Battleship is also open for tours.

Have a wonderfull time.

Palm Student

Matt,

I was just out there this past August and went to all three gardens. All well worth the time to visit. And like Suzanne said, if you have time, certainly go to Pearl Harbor. Have a great trip!

Jeff

Thank you Jeff, Pearl Harbor is at the top of my list.

Matt