The Koko Crater Botanical Garden is home to Oahu’s hidden desert oasis overflowing with cactuses, palm trees, and tropical flowers. The botanical garden is nestled inside Koko Crater, the same crater you can find thefamous Koko Head Stairs hike.
Koko Crater is a tuff cone created by Oahu’s most recent volcanic activities. Don’t worry; the last volcanic activity took place tens of thousands of years ago! The garden was built in 1958 and currently occupies 60 of the 200 acres within the crater. Oahu’s east side is hot and dry, making it the ideal home for the dryland plants that live here.
The Details
Trail difficulty:Easy
The self-guided tour along the 2-mile loop trail takes about 1.5 hours. If you only want to see the Cactus Garden, you can head in the opposite direction (counterclockwise) of the suggested tour to hit the Americas section almost immediately.
According to the Honolulu Parks Website, guided group tours can be arranged by calling 808-768-7135. You can also use thenumber if you arelooking for information on handicap accessibility or to request modifications.
Hours:Open daily from sunrise to sunset. (They are closed Christmas Day, Dec. 25 and New Year’s Day, Jan. 1)
Free!
The path is unpaved and primarily flat with some uneven terrain. Be sure to watch out for…
- Loose rocks
- Slippery surfaces
- Falling branches
- Thorny plants
- Exposed roots
Don’t touch or handle the plants. Picking/gathering fruits, flowers, seeds, plants is prohibited. Never put anything in your mouth – some plants are poisonous and may cause adverse reactions. If you’re visiting with small children, be sure to keep this info in mind!!
There is no drinking water available and only a portable toilet. You may be able to find a clean bathroom and a place to purchase bottled water nearby in Hawaii Kai Center or Koko Marina Center. (Both centers have a Starbucks and a few restaurants. There is also a gas station in the Koko Marina Center.)
Location:7491 Kokonani St. Honolulu, HI 96825(About 30 minutes from Waikiki)
Parking:There is a small dirt lot right near the entrance of the trail loop. Parking is free.
Highlights:
Admission is FREE. The Cactus Garden makes this spot pretty unique compared to the other gardens on Oahu! If you’re visiting when plumerias are likely to be in full bloom (late spring into summer), it is worth a stop to see the Plumeria Grove.
In addition to cacti and plumeria, you’ll also have the chance to see Hawaiian plants, African & Madagascan plants, Dryland palms, and more.Most visitors seem to enjoy the same quiet, peaceful experience I had, so this would be an excellent spot to get away from the crowds.
What to wear:
Walking or hiking shoes are recommended. I wore Birkenstock sandals, and the only annoying part was that small rocks kept getting trapped in the footbed. The next time I visit I will definitely wear sneakers!
What to bring:
- Sunscreen and maybe a hat for extra sun protection
- Water (there are no fountains or places to purchase water)
- Camera
- A picnic lunch orsnacks (there are some picnic tables inside the garden)
My Koko Crater Botanical Garden Experience (January 2021)
The first time I saw pictures of the Koko Crater Botanical Garden, I thought for sure someone incorrectly tagged their Instagram location. Sure enough, there really was a cactus garden on the island, so I went to check it out for myself!
I visited in late January and was surprised to see I had the garden mostly to myself. There was just one other car parked in the dirt lot right outside the garden entrance.
I walked up and grabbed a guide from the mailbox that held the paper brochures. Be sure to take one of these when you arrive or refer back to the map PDF linked below.
Plumeria Grove
I was most interested in seeing the cactuses (or cacti, whatever you prefer to call them!) but decided to walk the entire loop. It was windy and cloudy, so I hoped to see some colorful plumeria and hibiscus trees to brighten my day. Unfortunately, the Plumeria Grove’s trees were almost completely bare except for a few colorful flowersclimbing to branches. I was super bummed because I could just imagine how beautiful the dozens of trees would look in full bloom.
Late April is the best time to visit the Koko Crater Botanical Garden’s Plumeria Grove whilethe flowers are at their peak. Plumerias start blooming in the spring and stop in mid to late summer, but late fall visitors may still be in luck since certain varieties can bloom until October!
Dryland Palms
It was neat to see the various types of Dryland Palms and hear the unique sounds the wind made as it rustled through the different leaf types. The grounds were a bit messy with fallen leaves and branches, so this area did not make the best backdrop for photos.
I cut a few corners rushing to see the Cactus Garden, but I passed by some other cool plants and trees along the loop. Tiny signs displaying species names can help you identify most of the plants and trees you’ll see in the garden.
Cactus & Succulent Garden
You’ll find a ton of awesome cactuses of all shapes and sizes in the Americas section of the botanical garden. This was my favorite part of the loop! It was also the only time that I saw another human (which almost gave me a heart attack when I saw movement behind some cactus arms)
To sum up my experience, the Koko Botanical Garden was a cool thing to do on a mostly-cloudy day. I enjoyed the Cactus Garden but probably would have skipped doing the entire loop during my winter visit. I’d love to return when the plumerias are blooming!
You could easily experience the highlights without committing to the 90-minute walk. If you’re short on time, I would suggest hitting just the Plumeria Grove and the Cactus Garden, which should be easy to do considering they are both close to the entrance. Personally,I would not recommend planning an entire day around a visit to the garden, but I would recommend adding it to your itinerary if you’realready planning ondoing other activities in the area.
Reasons to go to Koko Crater Botanical Garden:
- If you’re in the area and have some time to kill
- If you’re looking for an easy, flat trail to walk
- If the Cactus Garden interests you
- If you’re visiting between Spring to Late Summer and want a fantastic spot to take photos of endless plumerias
- If you are looking for something more off-the-beaten-path
- If you’re hoping to have a place primarily to yourself or if you’re looking for peace and quiet
- If you’re looking for a free activity
Reasons to skip it:
- It is not the most maintained botanical garden on the island, and it’s not exactly the most captivating. I much prefer Waimea Valley on the North Shore for a leisurely walk in a lush tropical setting with a waterfall at the end.
- If it’s winter, there’s a chance most of the flowers will not be in bloom.
- If you’re not staying nearby or only have limited time, you will probably find other experiences more rewarding unless you’re specifically looking for what this garden offers!
Have you been? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment below 🙂
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More to do and see nearby:
South Oahu (Honolulu, Waikiki, and Hawaii Kai)
Makapu’u Tide Pools Hike
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Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail Hike
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Koko Crater Botanical Garden – Oahu’s Secret Desert Oasis
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