Botanical Garden at University of Hawaii - Hilo — Attraction in Hawaii

Free Admission- just need to find nearby parking on campus.

There are posts here comparing this garden to the larger garden here on island, but they're totally different...

This garden is not several acres and does not offer such plant variety. This is a very 'specific' plant garden created and designed primarily for deep study of the 3 main plant families Cycads, Bromeliads and Palms...

CYCADS are dinosaur era plants sometimes called Living Fossils. These plants have survived 5 mass world extinctions and some believe they are responsible for life continuing on earth- producing needed oxygen. The garden has an impressive inventory of over 100 species of this plant for public viewing. Most are 'endangered' and/or have become 'extinct' in the wild. Careful with the children, many Cycad leaves are spiny/pokey with thorns and very unforgiving.

BROMELIADS add splashes of Color and wild patterns to the garden paths. Many came from plant breeder David Shigi who wrote and published book on these plants and his booth at plant sales is first to sell out every time. Some of these have spine thorns along leaf edges, so careful with kids.

The PALM Garden is in a different area that requires one to walk along a marked path around student dormitory buildings to get to it. To navigate to the Palms section, look for the yellow colored direction signs. The Palms are an impressive collection and HIPS- Hawaii Island Palm Society members have donated and helped maintain things. Some of these have spine thorns along leaf edges, so careful with kids.

What makes this garden Special is that these Very Rare plant specimens have been curated from all over the world and most were planted over 30 years ago.

The university allowed plant professor Don Hemmes to use campus land to create the garden for educating students and the public... BUT, the university does not have the manpower to help maintain the garden. So, ALL Work for over 30 years has been done by student and community volunteers who meet there on Wednsdays. If you have free time and can assist, there's plenty of weeds, trimming, planting work to help out with (Required: must sign liability waiver). Also, those who volunteer frequently (and donors- upon request) get a free t-shirt with the garden name and logo !

There are also Fee map 'handouts' (of the main garden and palm garden) posted on the garden shadehouse greenhouse... So, feel free to grab & take paper handout. All of the plants are an impressive collection, but the garden Cycad collection, in particular has been mapped, inventoried, and under review to become certified- for conservation and preservation purposes... to be among and in partnership with the top Botanical gardens with similar collections.

Most plants are labeled to increase the educational value and appreciation study of the collection.

This hidden Gem Garden has great historical value and Beauty and a Member of the American...

One of Hilo's hidden gems.

A wonderful place to visit for both the horticultural enthusiast and the person that had never seen a tropical plant up close.

The colorful bromeliad garden is a feast for the eyes. It features dozens (if not 100s) of unusual and colorful bromeliads tucked within a wide variety of understory and shade tolerant cycads, some that are rarely seen outside of their native habitats.

Adjacent to bromeliad section is a cycad garden that includes many unique and uncommon specimens. Some of these giants closely resemble their prehistoric ancestors that were around long before dinosaurs.

Just around the corner is a palm exhibit. A gravel pathway meanders through a stunning assortment of palm tree species from around the globe. Each tree showcases a unique attribute. There you'll see novel leaf shapes, scaled seeds, ominous thorns, and vibrant coloration in sizes both mammoth and miniature.

An easy 10 or 15 minute walk, but one could spend hours here.

(All the photos below were taken while sitting...

This place was absolutely lovely. I wish we would have come here before we went and paid money to the gardens at Botanical World Adventures. This Garden is WAY better and it's free. Parking is a little confusing, but there is a pull off spot across the road (on Lanikaula Street) where a few cars can park. The actual sign and entrance is facing the side street, Nowelo Street, but no parking on that street. It wasn't busy when we were there and we even ran into a college professor there and he was friendly and helpful. Enjoyed seeing a variety of unique plants. Saw lots of lizards. They have done a beautiful job on this garden and truly appreciate the signs they have to get to the palm garden. Everything is clearly laid out and they even have a self guided tour flyer you can grab from their greenhouse building. If you have 30-45 minutes and are looking for something free to do in the area, come here!!!!! Thank you students and staff for all your hard work in planting and upkeeping this garden to keep...