Virtual Tour of Koko Crater Botanical Garden

The Honolulu Botanical Gardens are administered by the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Urban Forestry. Our five gardens (Foster, Lili`uokalani, Ho`omaluhia, Koko Crater, and Wahiawā) are located in different ecological settings on the island of O`ahu. Collectively, they comprise 650-acres and contain unique plant collections from Hawai`i and around the world.

This virtual tour takes you through Koko Crater Botanical Garden, a botanical sanctuary nestled within a dormant volcanic crater located on the scenic Ka Iwi Coast of eastern O`ahu. This garden showcases dryland plants from Hawai`i, the Americas, Africa, Madagascar, and collections of dryland palms and plumeria.

Admission: Free

Hours: Open daily from sunrise to sunset. Closed Christmas Day (December 25) and New Year's Day (January 1).

Hiking Trail: Touring the 2-mile loop trail takes about 1.5 hours. The trail is moderate intensity and suitable for most ages. The trail is not wheelchair accessible and visitors may encounter slight changes in elevation, loose rocks, and slippery terrain. Self-guided tour brochures are available at the garden entrance.

Facilities: The garden is in the early stages of development, therefore, restroom facilities, drinking fountains and other visitor accommodations have not yet been constructed. A portable toilet can be found by the end of the Plumeria Grove where the trail splits. For personal comfort, visitors are advised to bring water and wear sunscreen, hats, and covered walking shoes.

Safety: Visitors may encounter slippery surfaces, loose rocks, falling branches, thorny plants and exposed roots. For your safety, please wear walking shoes and exercise caution on the unpaved roads and trails. Bicycles and motor vehicles are not permitted. Pets are not allowed, except service animals that perform a task for the owner.

Please do not handle plants. Never put any plant or plant part in your mouth. Some plants are poisonous and/or may cause adverse reactions. Picking or gathering of fruits, flowers, seeds and other plants is prohibited.

There are five distinct gardens forming the Honolulu Botanical Garden system. The gardens are located in different ecological settings around the Island of O'ahu. We offer visitors year-round opportunities to explore unique and diverse plant collections. Admission is free, except at Foster Botanical Garden. Learn more about them by clicking on the links below.

1.  Koko Crater Botanical Garden 
2.  Foster Botanical Garden 
3.  Wahiawā Botanical Garden 
4.  Lili`uokalani Botanical Garden 
5.  Ho`omaluhia Botanical Garden 

• Honolulu Botanical Gardens
• 50 North Vineyard Boulevard
• Honolulu, HI 96817

• Phone: (808) 768-7135
• Email:  hbg@honolulu.gov 
•  www.honolulubotanicalgardens.com 
• Social Media: @honolulubotanicalgardens

The mission of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens is to plan, develop, curate, maintain and study documented collections of tropical plants in an aesthetic setting for the purposes of conservation, botany, horticulture, education and passive recreation.

Koko Crater (known as "Kohelepelepe" in Hawaiian) was formed about 40,000 years ago and was one of the last volcanic activities on O'ahu's scenic Ka Iwi Coastline. Koko Crater is technically a tuff cone, formed by a gassy eruption of ash and tuff (very fine ash). Ash, not lava, erupted because cool seawater entered the volcanic vent. The ash and tuff settled on the ground, solidified into layers of cinder, and eventually became sedimentary rock. Koko Crater is the tallest tuff cone on O`ahu, reaching 1,208 feet in elevation at its summit.

Notice the asymmetrical shape of the crater due to the trade winds blowing during the eruption. Also, notice the two craters indicating the two separate eruptions. Minerals found in the Koko Crater include olivine, iron and magnesium. In contrast, mainland volcanoes produce silica, feldspar, aluminum and potassium. 

The Botanical Garden is thoughtfully divided into nine main sections that feature dryland plants of their respective region. The unique conditions of the crater make it possible to host a variety of species that thrive in tropical mesic habitats to dry forest and xeriscape ecosystems.

This virtual guided tour will take you through a variety of dryland plant collections that are native to Hawai`i and other exotic places around the world. Naturalized kiawe and koa haole trees dominate the landscape along the trail between the cultivated collections. Follow the virtual guided tour below as you hike the two-mile loop trail. The hike takes about one and a half hours, so come prepared with water, snacks, and comfortable hiking shoes.The four major collections arranged by geographical areas are:

• Plumeria Grove
• Bougainvilleas
• Hybrid Hibiscus
• Pacifica Section
• Americas Section
• Hawaiian Section
• Madagascan Section
• African Section
• Dryland Palms 

The Koko Crater Botanical Garden is home to a collection of unique and stunning plants from the tropical regions of the world. Some are rare or endangered in their native habitat. Selective planting and water conservation techniques transform this landscape into a garden where plants suitable to these desert-like surroundings can thrive and flourish.

Series of various genera or themes are highlighted below. Swipe through the slides to view the different varieties of featured flora inside the blooming volcanic crater.