Ha'ikū Gardens — Attraction in Oʻahu

So, I went to Haiku Gardens because my wife read something that said it was a botanical garden. When we got there it looked like it was just a wedding venue, but a lady in a golf cart at the entrance told us it was also a botanical garden, so off we went...

The wedding venue part looks good, and probably is wonderful, though interlopers like us can slip in far to easily. We walked down and watched what we believed to be members of the wedding party getting their pictures taken as another area was being prepared for the wedding. After a quick look around, we found a path to the side of one of the venue buildings and decided to explore.

There were some interesting plants,including some bamboo, but the pond was disgusting. The range free chickens we encountered on the path were fun to watch, but were quite rambunctious and obviously not prepared for us to be walking down their path. They got over it once we got past them.

Parking is not a problem, though people miss the entrance and enter through the exit more often than not. Everyone we encountered was very nice, though people showing up for the wedding were a little perplexed by our appearance (we completed an early morning hike and looked a little worse for wear.

Check it out if you're looking for a wedding venue, avoid it if you are looking for...

The garden surrounds the Haleiwa Joe’s Seafood Grill. The restaurant was closed when we visited but the garden is open for visitors. It’s beautiful and well manicured garden. There’s a bridge over the pond that leads to the gazebo where you can be closer to the water. We saw fish, eel, turtles and ducks. It was just us and another couple there…very serene and peaceful. Except for singing birds the quiet was almost deafening! We think it’s better to see the garden when the restaurant is closed and when there’s no wedding going on to experience the silence and...

Listen to me.

I am not adventurous. And I’m allergic to shellfish. So my options at seafood places are usually limited.

But I stepped out, tonight, and tried the whole fried fish.

And when I tell you it was one of the. Best. Pieces. Of. Fish. I’ve ever had. Omg. Phenomenal. Phenomenal.

Thee place was beautiful. The waitress was sweet, professional, knowledgeable, and timely. The food came out so fast we didn’t even finish our bread. My first bite told me all I needed to know. The portion was perfect.

Amazing...